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MSc Theses

If not available below, PDFs of Masters' theses can be found in the library catalogue of the University of Zurich.

Ongoing MSc Theses


Beretta Grande, Eranthos GEO	Political Ecology of Populism: a case study of Upper Austria	Dr. Stephan Hochleithner Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Brändli, Simona GEO	Identität und Belonging in der «Diaspora rumantscha»	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Gärtner, Lea GEO	Contesting marginalisation and claiming agency: place-making strategies of Muslim women in Switzerland	Dr. Shona Loong Dominik Müller Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Graf, Tobias GEO	Remaking the palm-oil frontier: Realities in West-Kalimantan	Dr. Asebe Regassa Debelo Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Johnson, Severin GEO	Contested Aid: How Domestic Political Shifts Shape the Activities of Swiss NGOs and Their Implications in Local Contexts	Dr. Shona Loong Dr. Asebe Regassa Debelo Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Kappeler, Sophie GEO	The Future of "Young" Maasai: How does Education shape the Future of "Young" Maasai?	Dr. Asebe Regassa Debelo Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Keller, Oliver GEO	Die Gemeindeversammlung als Raum politischen Handelns: Perspektiven von Akteur:innen in der Gemeinde Weiningen	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Proske, Mayumi GEO	Navigating Public and Intimate Racism: East and Southeast Asian Experiences in Switzerland	Dr. Shona Loong Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Tolusso, Olivia GEO	Exploring Producer-Buyer Relationships: Organic Cocoa Production in the Eastern Region, Ghana	Dr. Asebe Regassa Debelo Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Welter, Michelle GEO	B/ordering the Banlieue: Lived Experiences of Mega-Event-Driven Renewal and Rebranding in Saint-Denis	Dr. Jasnea Sarma Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Widmer, Sophia GEO	How dilemmas faced by aid organizations in conflict zones are negotiated in the public sphere. An analysis using the UNRWA debate in Switzerland as a case study.	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf

Completed MSc Theses

2025
Gerber, Livio GEO	A Frontier of Imagination: The Impact of the Tourism Industry on the Geographical Imagination of Antarctica PDF	Dr. Asebe Regassa Debelo Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Plozza, Elisa GEO	Lombard Across the Border: Negotiating Borderland Identities Through Language Revitalization PDF	Dr. Shona Loong Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Raemy, Brandon GEO	Rethinking Development Aid in Post-coup Myanmar’s Non-state Education System: An Ethnographic Inquiry Into Spring University Myanmar’s Navigation Through Turmoil	Dr. Shona Loong Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Steiger, Mirjam GEO	Everyday Tourism Encounters in Bocas del Toro — Understanding Afro-Antillean Experiences with Global North Tourism in Panama PDF	Dr. Shona Loong Dr. Jasnea Sarma Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf

2024
Berglas, Gabriela GEO	Competing and Complimentary Framings in the National Irrigation Policy in Kyrgyzstan. A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Helvetas TIRIP project PDF	Dr. Asebe Regassa Debelo Bernd Steimann Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Mariniak, Mariia GEO	The Authenticity of Fado and Touristification: Implications of a Modern Phenomenon for the Perception of a Traditional Music Genre PDF	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Zeller, Livia GEO	Klimaaktivismus in der Schweiz: Die Entstehung neuer Politischer Subjektivitäten im Klimastreik PDF	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf

2023
Alessi, Daria GEO	Internal Borders, Bordering Processes and Intersectionality as Lived Experiences – A Case Study of Refugee Women in Switzerland PDF	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Gadze, Jan GEO	How Climate Change discourse manifests under a right-wing populist narrative framework, based on discourse analysis of the Swiss weekly magazine "Die Weltwoche" PDF	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Joos, Linus GEO	Die Rückkehr der europäischen Rüstungspolitik PDF	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Zinnenlauf, Rafael GEO	Tore schiessen für die Nation? Fussball und Identitätspolitik in der Schweiz PDF	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf

2022
Bernhard, Maxie GEO	Die Konstruktion der «Coronakrise» und ihre Implikationen für die Handlungsbefugnisse des Bundesrates - Eine diskursanalytische Untersuchung der Medienkonferenzen und Medienmitteilungen der Schweizer Bundesregierung von Januar 2020 bis Juni 2020 PDF	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Grünenfelder, Marco GEO	Die Darstellung des Jurakonflikts in den Schweizerischen Medien (1964 - 2017) PDF	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
van der Haegen, Thilo GEO	The Canadian Arctic Resource Frontier: Renegotiations of Space in a Changing Environment PDF	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf

2021
Grob, Marc GEO	Experiencing and Negotiating Everyday Liminality - A Case Study of Young Provisionally Admitted Foreigners in Switzerland PDF	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Landolt, Lara GEO	How do Swiss International Cooperation Stakeholders Frame the Role of the Private Sector for Sustainable Development? A Critical Discourse Analysis on the Controversies Around Switzerland’s New International Cooperation Strategy PDF	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Niehaus, Sabrina Gabriella GEO	Die Aushandlung der Rolle Schweizer Entwicklungsorganisationen in der Politik und die Bedeutung von Recht im Diskurs - Eine Kritische Diskursanalyse am Fallbeispiel der Konzernverantwortungsinitiative PDF	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Salzmann, Moritz GEO	Urbane Transformation in Basel. Eine empirische Untersuchung am Beispiel der Entwicklungsgebiete Volta Nord und Westfeld. PDF	Prof. Dr. Christian Schmid Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Seger, Vanessa GEO	Corona – eine Zeit beispielloser Solidarität? Die Auswirkungen der Covid-19-Pandemie auf das Schweizer Asylwesen und seine Asylsuchenden und Migrant*innen PDF	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf

2020
Baumann, Heidi Spec. MA	The Native Friendship Center of Montreal: A Space of Expression for Urban Indigenous People	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Burkart, Meret GEO	"Who gets certified?" Participation in the Fairmined Certification and its Added Values explained by Miners and NGO involved in Colombia PDF	Dr. Muriel Côte Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Duarte Torregroza, Lina Maria GEO	Legal clothes made by illegal people: A case study of working conditions and unionization of Senegalese street vendors in Barcelona	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Dr. Xavier Balaguer Rasillo Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Graber, Andrea Spec. MA	A Critical Analysis of the New Mining Company Town Kalumbila, Zambia PDF	Dr. Muriel Côte Dr. Stefan Leins Dr. Patience Mususa Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Jörin, Thierry GEO	The Potential of Public-Private Partnerships for Actors in Development Cooperation: The Case of Switzerland and the Better Gold Initiative	Dr. Muriel Côte Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Kobayashi, Hiromi Spec. MA	The dynamics of accepting refugees in Japan - Asylum policy and the immigration bureau-	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Prof. Dr. David Chiavacci Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Lienhard, Charlotte GEO	Linking Humanitarian Aid and Development through Local Capacity Building - Case Study on a Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project in Post-Earthquake Nepal PDF	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Steinegger, Sarah Spec. MA	Resource Politics in Frontier Spaces: The Use and Governance of the Mangrove Ecosystem in Djangoa, North-Western Madagascar	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf

2019
Kaiser, Julian GEO	Good herder, bad herder – Understanding the construction of Fulani herders’ identities by the local community in Agogo, Ghana PDF	Dr. Muriel Côte Frank Agyei Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Lama, Phulba Doma GEO	Studentische Kritische Geographie an der Universität Zürich der 1970er und 1980er Jahre	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Müller, Manuel Spec. MA	Between the Collective and the Individual: Communitarian Police Forces in Mexico Challenging Human Rights and State Justice PDF	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf

2018
Froesch, Matthias GEO	Representation of terror attacks in Swiss media PDF	Dr. Rory Rowan Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Gilli, Mengina Spec. MA	“Taking place?” Formalization through Community-based Resource Management and Shea Nut Certification in Ghana PDF	Dr. Muriel Côte Gretchen Walters Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Locher, Hannah	Supranational management of migration flows	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Dr. Simon Noori Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Stamm, Jessica	Chinese and Taiwanese Entrepreneurs in Windhoek, Namibia - The Shop Owners of Chinatown and Fujian City	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Zanetti, Jessica GEO	Mining Farmers‘ Livelihood Strategies A Mixed Method Study at Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mines in Burkina Faso PDF	Dr. Muriel Côte Brugger Fritz Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf

2017
Borner, Chiara	Conflict, Peace and Catholic Nuns - Mediating Social and Political Spaces in Northern Sri Lanka PDF	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Kaufmann, Christoph	Precarious lives at the frontier - The Production of Victimhoods in Maria La Baja, Colombia PDF	Dr. Muriel Côte Prof. Dr. Christian Berndt
Wennubst, Francesco	Opening and incremental closure of the Balkan Route - Understanding scales of migration management and the Serbian “open borders” stance PDF	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Wolf, Nadine	Fencing In, Keeping Out: Seasonality and Enclosures in the Okakarara Area, Namibia PDF	Dr. Rony Emmenegger Olivier Graefe Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf

2016
Herter, Marc Andreas	Development as spectacle: Understanding post-war urban development in Colombo, Sri Lanka The case of Arcade Independence Square PDF	Dr. Pia Hollenbach Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Hunziker, Jonas	Planning (versus) the Unplannable - Urban Planning and the Production of Illegal Geographies in Kampala, Uganda	Dr. Rony Emmenegger Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Seithel, Sunna	The role of the private sector in vocational training development projects - An actor-oriented approach to a public-private partnership in Nepal: the Employment Fund PDF	Dr. Pia Hollenbach Prof. Dr. Ulrike Müller-Böker

2015
Frebutte, Marc-Antoine	Exploitation et Illégalité dans l'Agro-Industrie Italienne - Le Cas de Venosa dans la Province de Potenza PDF	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Gastberger, Eva	Towards Independence: The Implementation of a National Protection Programme for Asylum Seekers and Recognised Refugees in Italy PDF	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Girod, Céline	Die strukturelle Rolle von NGOs am Beispiel der Regulierungspolitik des Schweizer Rohstoffsektors PDF	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Dr. Christoph Vogel Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Neff, Oliver	Remittance 2.0? Transnational Entrepreneurship by Second-Generation Kosovars from Switzerland PDF	Dr. Sarah Byrne Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Schwarz, Ramon	Konfliktmineralieninitiativen und der Einfluss des OECD Due Diligence Frameworks. Eine Untersuchung von policy-Verbreitung PDF	Dr. Timothy Raeymaekers Dr. Christoph Vogel Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Steiner, Jennifer	"Kein attraktiver Standortfaktor": Asylunterkünfte als Hindernis im lokalen Entwicklungsplan. Eine diskursanalytische Betrachtung der Opposition gegen Asylunterkünfte in der Schweiz PDF	Dr. Ephraim Pörtner Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf

2014
Celentano, Simon	Die somalische Gemeinschaft in Addis Abeba	Dr. Rony Emmenegger Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Heinzle, Sabine	Return to the Past? The Struggle for Belonging among Northern Muslims living in longterm Displacement in Puttalam, Sri Lanka	Dr. Bart Klem Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Mäder, Tanja	The Meaning of a Visit – Sinhalese Tourists, Tempels, and the End of War in Eastern Sri Lanka	Dr. Bart Klem Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf

2013
Buss, Patricia	Living in Galagodawatta - a Post-Tsunami Resettlement Scheme in Sri Lanka	Dr. Pia Hollenbach Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Cima, Ottavia	The Journey of Accountability - Translating, negotiating and performing development in rural Nepal	Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Frischknecht, Karin	Development in mid-Western Nepal: Decision-Making in and Politicisation of a Local Development Project in the Context of Political Transition	Dr. Sarah Byrne Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf
Haltiner, Pascal	Getting off the Hook? Deep sea Fishery Livelihoods and Changes in the War to Peace Transition in Valaichchenai, eastern Sri Lanka	Dr. Bart Klem Prof. Dr. Benedikt Korf

2012
Gantenbein, Basil	Deman-Side Quality Regulation for Carbon Offsetting. A Way to Overcome Integrity Issues in the Compliance Market? (Supervison: Joëll de Sépibus, Universität Bern)
Hess, Monika	Forging Diasporic Politcal Identities in the Post-LTTE Era. Young Tamil Secon-Generation Adults in Switzerland (Supervision: Benedikt Korf and Pia Hollenbach)
Hobi, Martin	Existenzsichernde Löhne in der Bekleidungsindustrie – Die Herausforderungen der Implementierung aus Sicht von Schweizer Bekleidungsunternehmen und indischen Produzenten (Supervision: Mark Starmanns)
Imoberdorf, Ilona	Deutungskämpfe im Oberwallis: Interessenverbände in der Debatte um den Wolf (Supervision: W. Zimmermann (ETHZ), Benedikt Korf)
Suter, Pirimin	Nationale Identität in einer polarisierten Politlandschaft. Eine diskursanalytische Untersuchung von 1. August-Reden eidgenössischer Parlamentarierinnen und Parlamentariern aus dem Jahren 2007-2010 (Supervision: Michael Hermann)

2011
Graf, Samuel	Small-scale gold mining in Ghana: Legalised - but legal? The organisation and legitimation of small-scale gold mining and trade operations
Moser, Michael	State failure and reconstruction of security - A critical discours analysis of the OECD's influence on the debate
Weilenmann, Barbara	A Critical Analysis of Discourse: A Case Study on DFID's Persception and Representation of State Failure (Supervision: Tobias Hagmann)

2010
Emmenegger, Rony	Decentralization to the household in Oromia, Ethiopia (Supervision: Tobias Hagmann/ Sibilo Keno)
Ganz, Patric	The transnational social space of post-tsunami aid - A case study of the Catholic Diaspora in Switzerland (Supervision: Mark Starmans)
Haile Selassie, Yared	The ballot or the bullet? Role and radicalization of Ethiopian Diaspora political groups after the 2005 elections (Subpervision: Albert A. Stahel/ Tobias Hagmann)
Heiz, Marina	The relationship between systemic risk in yield losses and physical-geographic characteristics: A regression analysis with Swiss case regions (Supervision: Prof. Dr.Bernhard Lehmann und Raushan Bokusheva/ ETHZ)
Ruf, Christian	Orte im funktionalen und räumlichen Kontext: Zwei Masse für die Eigen- und Frendzentralität der Schweizer Gemeinden (Supervison: Christoph Craviolini)
Waldburger, Doris	Motivation für ein ethisches Konsumverhalten: Eine Studie zum Moraldiskurs ethischer Konsumenten (Supervision: Pia Hollenbach)

2009
Corradi, Corinne	Access to health care among nomadic pastoralist in Chad -Using the livelihood approach (Supervision: Tobias Hagmann, Ulrike Müller-Böcker)
Kallenberger, Pascal	Howrah the other Kolkata . The planning and making of poverty in a contemporary Indian city - a critical analysis (Supervision: Christian Schmid)
Meier, Matthias	Corporate Social Responsibility in globalen Lieferketten - Strategien von Schweizer Bekleidungsunternehmen, zur Übernahme von Verantwortung (Supervision: Mark Starmanns)
Wittek, Janine	The transnational social space of post-tsunami aid: A case study of the Catholic Tamil disapora in Switzerland (Supervison: Benedikt Korf)

2008
Ehrler, Sabine	Interfaces of a local NGO in Global Health Governance (Supervision: Benedikt Korf)
Kramer, Michael	Entwicklungspolitischer Diskurs in österreichischen und deutsch-schweizer Printmedien (Supervision: Benedikt Korf)
Schürmann, Veronika	Wof washa - cave of birds: Dynamics of a forest at the eastern escarpment of the Ethiopian Highlands (Diplomarbeit) (Supervision: Benedikt Korf)