Assessment of Master Thesis – Academic Consultant
Study programme:International Economic Relations Field of study:International and Diplomatic Studies Academic year:2020/2021
Master Thesis Topic:Environmental migration of Sub-Saharan countries Author’s name:Adriana Potînga
Ac. Consultant’s Name:Ing. Mgr. Markéta Votoupalová, Ph.D.
Opponent:Mgr. Nikola Strachová
Criterion Mark
(1–4)
1. Overall objective achievement 1
2. Logical structure 1
3. Using of literature, citations 1
4. Adequacy of methods used 2
5. Depth of analysis 2
6. Self-reliance of author 1
7. Formal requirements: text, graphs, tables 2
8. Language and stylistics 2
Comments and Questions:
The thesis investigates a very relevant topic of environmental migration, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. The thesis is logically structured, the goal is clearly stated and theory thoroughly described. The state of the art is introduced in much detail, even though it is included in the introduction under a specific subtitle which is quite unusual. To the contrary, the research design (methodology and data collection) is only briefly touched upon. An elaboration could have helped the reader to follow the arguments particularly in the last chapter which is rather descriptive with any operationalization missing. The theoretical concepts are applied only in the conclusion. It would have helped to employ them throughtout the empirical part more systematically to enhance the analytical value of the thesis. Both main chapters are rather detailed and the whole thesis very long but it certainly helped that the student divided them into sub-chapters which makes the text more reader-friendly. Formally, the thesis fulfils all the main requirements. However, there remain quite a few grammar mistakes and typing errors. Also the list of figures includes the figures themselves, not only the titles, some paragraphs are not formatted and some sentences not finished, particularly towards the end of the thesis. A few shorter parts of the text are plagiarized -they are directly drawn from other scholars´ publications without being marked as direct quotations, e.g. on p. 49 and 55.
Despite all these remarks, I appreciate the effort that the student put into the writing and recommend the thesis for defence. The following questions are suggested: Regarding the attempts to calculate how many people will migrate in future because of environmental changes – do you consider them to be
useful/plausible or merely guesses? Personally, would you add the concept of the environmental refugee into the Refugee convention? Would it make sense to you and do you think it would be feasible to be implemented in practice?
Conclusion: The Master Thesis is recommended for the defence.
Suggested Grade: 2
Date: 03/05/2021 Ing. Mgr. Markéta Votoupalová, Ph.D.
Academic Consultant
