IIAS thesis prize for UvA alumna
University of Amsterdam (UvA) alumna Marloes van Houten has scooped the Master's thesis prize at the International Institute of Asian Studies (IIAS) for her MA thesis ‘Nepal's Civil War and its Impact'.
University of Amsterdam (UvA) alumna Marloes van Houten has scooped the Master's thesis prize at the International Institute of Asian Studies (IIAS). She was awarded the prize for her MA thesis ‘Nepal's Civil War and its Impact. Conflict impact, social capital and resilient institutions in the CPN-Maoist heartland communities of Nepal'.The jury described the thesis, which was supervised by Dr Ward Berenschot and Prof. Gerd Junne, as a successful combination of political science and anthropology. Van Houten carried out research in an extremely remote area of Nepal following the November 2006 peace accord. The jury commented that, ‘She combines sound political analysis with a good sense of local differences and a bottom-up approach illustrated by moving case studies. Alongside this, she presents relevant recommendations around policy and strategy. An impressive achievement'.
Making more of respondents’ stories
The prize consists of a full-time fellowship of three months, offering the possibility to write an article or PhD proposal. In the short term, Van Houten will be meeting with the IIAS to finalise her plans for the fellowship. ‘I'd like to do my fellowship on a part-time basis and spread it out over a few more months, so that I don't have to give up my current job as programme coordinator at the United Network of Young Peacebuilders [see link below]. Apart from proving that the long process of researching and writing my thesis was worthwhile, I see the prize as a great chance to fulfil my wish to do more with my respondents' stories than merely record them in a thesis. I want their voices to be heard by a wider audience by redrafting two articles I've already written and trying to have them published. I'd also like to use the fellowship grant to better market my thesis and look into the possibility of building on it for a PhD thesis. That would enable policymakers and development organisations, both here and in Nepal, to make greater use of the information I've gathered.'The potential of action research
Van Houten is drawn towards research and building a body of expertise, but would like to see more cross-pollination between social issues and scientific research, with demand-driven research providing tailored recommendations. ‘In other words, there could be more focus on the potential of action research within academic institutions, without it becoming a social or political football.'Van Houten studied International Development Studies in the Research Master's programme in Human Geography, Planning and Development Studies, and graduated with honours in early 2009. Her thesis won not just the IIAS Master's thesis prize, but also a nomination for the ‘Visions of peace' thesis prize awarded by IKV Pax Christi.
Author: Esther van Bochove, FMG Communication Department