AbstractsSociology

This thesis is concerned with exploring the neoliberal marketization of security and risk, and what consequences this marketization has for how transnational corporations affect sovereignty and rights in weak states. It looks at the different actors involved in constructing socio-political risk, security assemblages and inclusive-exclusion. A theoretical framework is constructed from these theoretical concepts, which is used to explore the power relations within security configurations that transcends states. Furthermore, this thesis explores the relationship between security measures of transnational corporations (TNCs) and contemporary practices such as Corporate Social Responsibility and Social License to Operate. It argues that there has been an increase in global consumer awareness of corporate responsibility and human rights violations which has influenced marked forces. This has resulted in an increased global consumer pressure on TNCs “forcing” them to incorporate contemporary practices into their security measures. This development is portrayed through expert interviews and cases studies of western based natural resource extraction companies in Nigeria and Colombia. This thesis finds that these contemporary practices can be used to mitigate risk, but they can also be used as a ways to control the local population by creating an inclusive exclusion that determines whether or not one is posing a risk to the authority concerned. Furthermore, by diffusing the sovereignty of the host countries, the security assemblages allow TNCs to influence the authorities involved, or even to act as the sovereign authority themselves. Advisors/Committee Members: Buur, Lars (advisor).