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Item type: Item , Unveiling the drivers: a multidimensional analysis of the determinants shaping the European Union’s global gateway initiative(2023) Abeledo Vilariño, Lucas IgnacioLittle is known about the emergence of the EU Global Gateway Initiative. Some argue that it is a geo-political challenge to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, while others claim that it satisfies an existing demand for infrastructure funding. This dissertation uncovers the relevant determinants in the emergence of Global Gateway. Using global governance as a theoretical framework and a case study research design, it argues that the EU economy, the global demand for infrastructure funding, and the geo-political challenge from China are the main determinants in the emergence of Global Gateway. It also discards the role of less-considered determinants, such as the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen, in the emergence of the Initiative. In doing so, this dissertation confirms a number of hypotheses established through the literature review and chosen theoretical framework, which offer broader insights into the emergence of Global Initiatives. It also opens avenues for future research, while staying conscious of potential limitations.Item type: Item , Contested labels: the operationalization of the IDP category in south Sudan(2022) Gonzalez Tejero, DeboraSimilar in shape to the ‘are refugees migrants’ debate, recent years have seen an emerging discussion about the relationship between the ‘IDP’ and ‘refugee returnee’ labels. The use of labels is known to be problematic yet continues to play a prominent role in policymaking and the humanitarian field. Drawing on an analysis of 20 interviews with professionals working for international organisations engaged in humanitarian operations and a variety of written contents, this paper investigates how, why and with which consequences the IDP population category has been operationalized and contested. A case study from South Sudan, where the debate about the relationship between the IDP and returning refugee labels played a significant role from 2019 onwards, shows that a number of factors shape this debate, including mandates, funding competition and donor structures, organisational politics, the role of individuals and political interests. The research findings suggest that labelling brings unintended consequences, beyond the stated goal of addressing needs in a better targeted manner. An over-reliance on labels as primary indicator of needs in status-based responses and the fragmentation of labels into increasingly competing, rather than nested entities, risks doing harm and constitutes a disservice to the affected populations. The research does not advocate to dismiss labels altogether, but encourages a much more critical engagement with how, why and for whom different labels are employed, along with a needs-based reorientation in the planning and implementation of humanitarian response operations.