In this dissertation, I focus on the question on how to resolve or reduce conflict, and specifically, on how to dissuade an attacking party from aggression. To this end, I introduced peaceful... Show moreIn this dissertation, I focus on the question on how to resolve or reduce conflict, and specifically, on how to dissuade an attacking party from aggression. To this end, I introduced peaceful alternatives for wealth generation to dyadic and intergroup attacker-defender contests, investigating how such opportunities impact conflict dynamics and outcomes. Across multiple projects, I studied the effects of production opportunities, the application of resource transfers in conflict resolution, and the effects of economic uncertainty on intergroup conflict. My results demonstrate that such alternatives can be effective in reducing attacker aggression and conflict, that both parties benefit from the reduction of conflict, and yet, that attackers benefit disproportionately due their ability to allocate resources more flexibly between conflict and outside options. Overall, this research makes a significant contribution to the existing literature on conflict (management) by providing both theory and empirical evidence for the effectiveness of peaceful alternatives for wealth generation in dissuading aggression and conflict, but also reveals some unexpected consequences, such as the disproportionate benefits for attackers, that must be addressed to create truly equitable and successful conflict resolution. Show less
Despite decades of research from psychology, anthropology, biology and economics, how social preferences arise and vary across contexts remains an open question. In three empirical chapters, this... Show moreDespite decades of research from psychology, anthropology, biology and economics, how social preferences arise and vary across contexts remains an open question. In three empirical chapters, this dissertation addresses this gap using a variety of economic games and neuroimaging techniques that allow for a tractable modeling of cooperation and competition. Overall, findings suggest that while social preferences are linked to neural structure, they can also adapt to environmental factors as well as beliefs about interaction partners. This doctoral thesis shows that interacting with ingroup or outgroup members, taking decisions publicly or privately, and knowing whether we may interact with others again affect our cooperative behavior. These results highlight the importance of understanding how prosociality may be altered and lay the foundations for policy makers to further those social environments that encourage prosocial behavior. Show less
Streptomyces are filamentous bacteria that produce more than two-thirds of known antibiotics. Due to their multicellular lifestyle as well as their prolific production of secondary metabolites, Str...Show moreStreptomyces are filamentous bacteria that produce more than two-thirds of known antibiotics. Due to their multicellular lifestyle as well as their prolific production of secondary metabolites, Streptomyces are of unique fundamental and applied importance. However, Streptomyces have unstable genomes, an attribute that can cause genomic rearrangements and dramatically alter their phenotype. Previous studies have failed to explain this phenomenon. In this dissertation, we investigate the evolutionary functions and mechanisms of genomic instability in Streptomyces coelicolor. We first find that a subpopulation of cells generated through large genomic rearrangements becomes specialized to produce antibiotics. This results in a division of labor which benefits the entire colony, while the yield and diversity of antibiotics are maximized, despite significant fitness costs to this altruistic subpopulation. Next, we show that these altruistic mutants continue to lose fitness due to the irreversible accumulation of large deletions and deleterious mutations, coupled to an increased mutation rate. Finally, we explore the molecular consequences of large genomic rearrangements for development and antibiotic production using detailed proteomics and metabolomics analyses, which highlight key pathways that are impacted by these genomic events. Overall, this dissertation provides new insights of genomic instability in Streptomyces. Show less
In this book, the author addresses the legal and political aspects of a multilateral tax treaty that fundamentally transforms the way states cooperate in the field of international taxation.... Show moreIn this book, the author addresses the legal and political aspects of a multilateral tax treaty that fundamentally transforms the way states cooperate in the field of international taxation. Working from a normative and pragmatic view on international tax relations, he proposes a management-focused approach to multilateral cooperation in international taxation. The resulting managerial framework treaty is drawn up on the basis of insights from political science and legal philosophy and is illustrated by means of international public law. Finally, the author evaluates the recently-adopted text of the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent BEPS (the BEPS Convention) in the light of his proposed framework. Show less
The thesis deals with the question as to whether international organisations could be jointly responsible for violations of international law committed by peacekeepers deployed in a peacekeeping... Show moreThe thesis deals with the question as to whether international organisations could be jointly responsible for violations of international law committed by peacekeepers deployed in a peacekeeping operation. The study starts by exploring the development of the concept of peacekeeping operations and the relations between the UN and four specific regional organisations (NATO, EU, AU and ECOWAS) on the basis of the applicable dispositions of the UN Charter. This examination as well as the following analysis of relations among these organisations, illustrate the evolution of a division of labour and an increase of cooperation between the UN and these organisations. It justifies the formulation of a presumption that international organisations could be jointly responsible as well as the formulation of a new criterion of attribution (normative control). The case-studies of specific peacekeeping operations confirm that in certain circumstances the UN and regional organisations have to be considered jointly responsible. Show less
This study examines a strategic partnership in the areas of peace and security between the EU and Africa. The EU has been strengthening its institutional ties with African organisations since 2000,... Show moreThis study examines a strategic partnership in the areas of peace and security between the EU and Africa. The EU has been strengthening its institutional ties with African organisations since 2000, with security relations with Africa a priority on the EU’s agenda following the 9/11 attacks on the United States of America. The study shows the driving forces behind the establishment of the partnership, arguing that the EU’s economic interests have played a significant role in its development. In addition, new global threats and challenges, such as immigration issues, climate change, international terrorism, conflicts, and the emerging global actors in Africa have affected the EU’s current foreign and security policy towards Africa. Norms and ideas also contribute to the emergence of the notion of strategic security partnership, but to a lesser extent. Drawing on literature, the method of process-tracing, and p rimary, secondary and tertiary sources, this dissertation opens up previously unexplored aspects of security relations between the two continents. Against the historical background of colonialism and recent moves to continental confederation and globalism, it seeks to determine why the EU has consolidated its institutional relations with African organisations. Show less
This thesis studies formal aspects of team automata, a mathematical framework introduced in 1997 by C.A. Ellis to model components of groupware systems and their interconnections. We focus on the... Show moreThis thesis studies formal aspects of team automata, a mathematical framework introduced in 1997 by C.A. Ellis to model components of groupware systems and their interconnections. We focus on the flexibility that team automata offer when modeling collaboration between system components Show less
