Radically Hopeful: Exploring the Opportunity Structures for Women Human Rights Defenders in a Shrinking Civic Space. A Qualitative Case Study of Bangladesh.
(2022) MIDM19 20221LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
Department of Human Geography
- Abstract
- This thesis examines the challenges that women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in Bangladesh are experiencing in a period of shrinking civic space. It further focuses on how perceptions guide their chosen strategies. Applying political opportunity theory, drawing from social movements research, it explores the structural changes in the political system and how it impacts civil society action. Thus, this thesis answers the following research questions: “How do women human rights defenders in Bangladesh perceive the opportunity structures within shrinking civic space?” and “What strategies do women human rights defenders in Bangladesh adopt and how are they shaped by their perceptions of opportunity structures?”
10 semi-structured... (More) - This thesis examines the challenges that women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in Bangladesh are experiencing in a period of shrinking civic space. It further focuses on how perceptions guide their chosen strategies. Applying political opportunity theory, drawing from social movements research, it explores the structural changes in the political system and how it impacts civil society action. Thus, this thesis answers the following research questions: “How do women human rights defenders in Bangladesh perceive the opportunity structures within shrinking civic space?” and “What strategies do women human rights defenders in Bangladesh adopt and how are they shaped by their perceptions of opportunity structures?”
10 semi-structured interviews were carried out with WHRDs in Bangladesh to elicit their perceptions about the phenomenon. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis, searching both deductively and inductively for themes. Principal findings of the study include that WHRDs perceive political and discursive opportunities as closing which shape their strategies to become more careful, self-censoring and focusing on less sensitive topics. When formal channels are closed, they increasingly focus on engaging society and utilizing informal strategies. As Bangladesh approaches its Least Developed Country graduation, this thesis illustrates the need for continued civil society support despite impressive economic growth. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9079286
- author
- Hedman, Elina LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- MIDM19 20221
- year
- 2022
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Shrinking civic space, women human rights defenders, civil society, political opportunity structures, de-democratization
- language
- English
- id
- 9079286
- date added to LUP
- 2022-07-20 10:36:00
- date last changed
- 2022-07-20 10:36:00
@misc{9079286,
abstract = {{This thesis examines the challenges that women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in Bangladesh are experiencing in a period of shrinking civic space. It further focuses on how perceptions guide their chosen strategies. Applying political opportunity theory, drawing from social movements research, it explores the structural changes in the political system and how it impacts civil society action. Thus, this thesis answers the following research questions: “How do women human rights defenders in Bangladesh perceive the opportunity structures within shrinking civic space?” and “What strategies do women human rights defenders in Bangladesh adopt and how are they shaped by their perceptions of opportunity structures?”
10 semi-structured interviews were carried out with WHRDs in Bangladesh to elicit their perceptions about the phenomenon. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis, searching both deductively and inductively for themes. Principal findings of the study include that WHRDs perceive political and discursive opportunities as closing which shape their strategies to become more careful, self-censoring and focusing on less sensitive topics. When formal channels are closed, they increasingly focus on engaging society and utilizing informal strategies. As Bangladesh approaches its Least Developed Country graduation, this thesis illustrates the need for continued civil society support despite impressive economic growth.}},
author = {{Hedman, Elina}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Radically Hopeful: Exploring the Opportunity Structures for Women Human Rights Defenders in a Shrinking Civic Space. A Qualitative Case Study of Bangladesh.}},
year = {{2022}},
}