This present study provides a historical correction to a common misinformation on the nature of the Second Kongsi War in West Borneo, between 1850 and 1854. The Chinese settlement of West Borneo...Show moreThis present study provides a historical correction to a common misinformation on the nature of the Second Kongsi War in West Borneo, between 1850 and 1854. The Chinese settlement of West Borneo were recruited under the authority of Malay sultans to the mining sector in the mid-eighteenth century. Thereafter these immigrants established themselves in the island by building their communities, based on lineages and brotherhood in the vicinity of the mining fields. Gradually, they became independent economically, militarily, and culturally. Within the near one-hundred-and-thirty-year settlement, internal conflicts between the Chinese communities frequently turned into violent and bloody battles. Since the interests of everyone in the region of West Borneo were interrelated, those internal disputes between the Chinese communities, the Chinese and other groups, developed into regional conflicts, involving every party, from Malay sultans and Dayak tribesmen to Europeans and other Chinese counterparts who attempted to remain neutral during the wars. This study specifically centres on the Chinese experience of the Second Kongsi War, between 1850 and 1854, during which different ethnic and political parties in West Borneo were engaged. By employing a bulk of Chinese letters stored at Leiden University Library, I sorted out four strategies used by the Chinese kongsis in West Borneo to win the inter-Chinese war. As a result of these strategies, militarily and diplomatically, the inter-Chinese disputes developed into a regional conflict, with the Dutch colonialists, which were however not beneficial for the kongsis. The wars unfortunately, resulted in serious defeats of the Chinese in 1854, and hence, the decline of the Chinese political institutions of West Borneo by the turn of the mid-nineteenth century.Show less
This thesis argues that the notion of a samurai film genre is actually an Anglophone construct that is used to classify Japanese films from the 'jidaigeki' (period film) and 'chambara' (swordplay)...Show moreThis thesis argues that the notion of a samurai film genre is actually an Anglophone construct that is used to classify Japanese films from the 'jidaigeki' (period film) and 'chambara' (swordplay) genres. Because of the political situation during the Cold War and the orientalist perspective of Western audiences, Western cultural conventions that would eventually create the samurai film genre were thought of as Japanese cultural conventions based on Japanese cultural tradition. Kurosawa Akira's 'samurai films', which were the first to be shown in the West and also the most widely exported outside Japan, have become representative of this genre, despite the fact that Kurosawa’s jidaigeki films often do not follow the cultural conventions that is believed to be the samurai film genre.Show less
Since opening up in the 1980’s China became a major player in the global economy. Despite its size, the country plays a marginal role in the global financial system and relies heavily on the USD to...Show moreSince opening up in the 1980’s China became a major player in the global economy. Despite its size, the country plays a marginal role in the global financial system and relies heavily on the USD to facilitate its international trade. This heavy reliance on the US-led system is a source of strategic vulnerability. PRC authorities tried tackling this problem through the internationalization of RMB, yet failed due to domestic opposition. This paper critically assesses the mechanism of dependence ingrained in the International Monetary System and explores the potential of state cryptocurrency, the Digital RMB, to achieve Chinese strategic policy objectives. So far cryptocurrencies have not been analyzed in the geopolitical context. This article closes that gap and contributes to the important debate on the impact of emerging cryptographic technologies on the global financial system. The overall analysis suggests that utilizing Digital RMB could help the country reassert its monetary sovereignty and ensure the security of domestic financial data.Show less
With the drastic shift started by the Meiji Revolution in 1868 and the opening of Japan’s borders also came a need to create a national Japanese identity, and one of several ways to achieve this...Show moreWith the drastic shift started by the Meiji Revolution in 1868 and the opening of Japan’s borders also came a need to create a national Japanese identity, and one of several ways to achieve this was to create a standardised national language. Ueda Kazutoshi stood at the forefront of this movement, advocating for the conceptualisation of kokugo, the national language, and in turn educational reforms which would implement this national language for the improvement and modernisation of the Japanese empire. In the book, Kokugo no tame, he goes into further detail on how to achieve this. This thesis looks at how idealistic and influenced by nationalism Ueda’s Kokugo no tame is by reading, interpreting and finally reflecting on his writings found in the book, as there is discourse on its abstract nature and its achievability. This thesis finds that Ueda’s writings were heavily influenced by the new social context of Meiji Japan and its recent victory in the First Sino-Japanese War, and that with the limitations that nationalism and racialisation bring, it also put limits on the feasibility of Ueda’s envisioned kokugo. While achievable in some ways with concrete ideas on how to implement kokugo, and indeed Ueda’s writings did set up the foundation of language standardisation, it is also the caveats made by Ueda on how kokugo should be educated under nationalist terms which made it more difficult to bring it to fruition according to Ueda’s ways.Show less
Purpose – This paper argues that education alone will not solve China’s AI talent shortage crisis. To successfully attract top international and domestic talent, China needs to reposition itself in...Show morePurpose – This paper argues that education alone will not solve China’s AI talent shortage crisis. To successfully attract top international and domestic talent, China needs to reposition itself in modern and people-centered ways. AI talent must be valued by companies (like Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent) and the government. Design/methodology/approach – This research adopts a two-part qualitative analysis. The policy document analysis utilizes the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan (NGAIDP) to identify a central framework. The secondary content analysis is an analysis of job advertisements and company websites of Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent. Findings – Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent, are not equal in how they appeal to prospective employees. The consequence of this is the impact on the AI talent shortage crisis; without being able to attract the best talent in the world – China faces the disadvantage of not becoming the world leader in artificial intelligence by 2030. Research limitations/implications –The study has several unaccounted variables, including the recruiter and the impact of COVID on employee value proposition. Furthermore, this study assumes that EVP is cross-cultural. Practical implications – The Chinese government places much value on the artificial intelligence training of youth rather than the importance of talent retention and attraction. It is evident via the NGAIDP that companies are responsible for following the values of the Chinese Communist Party. However, there is little to be said about the human value of employees and the necessity for China’s tech giants to find practical solutions. In addition, the criticism from Western scholars toward China’s AI national ecosystem is based on fear and assumption – without realizing that China’s tech companies face the challenge of appealing to a highly educated generation of AI talent. Originality/value – This paper takes a different approach to investigating the NGAIDP and combining it with research outside the traditional Chinese-studies scholarship. The combination of Chinese scholarship with Human Resources scholarship adds depth to the discussion of employee value in China and how companies should be moving forward in the future. Keywords - China, New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan, AI Talent, Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent (BAT), Employee Value Proposition, Talent ManagementShow less
As a dedication to the necessary move away from cultural essentialism, this research explores one of its prominent counter-concepts, cultural hybridity, by combining the following research...Show moreAs a dedication to the necessary move away from cultural essentialism, this research explores one of its prominent counter-concepts, cultural hybridity, by combining the following research questions; What is meant by the concept of cultural hybridity? How does this concept apply to Kengo Kuma's (隈研吾) (1954-) life and his architecture? Labeling Kuma’s architecture as a continuation of an essential Japanese timeline through claims about the embeddedness of a ‘Japaneseness’, despite the relatively recent invention hereof after the Meiji revolution, could be legitimizing stereotyping of the past, and is questionable. When applying the concept of cultural hybridity one can acknowledge that the formation of Kuma’s architecture is influenced by numerous intercultural flows. It has been informed by practices and philosophies from in- and outside the Japanese island region, and is underlied by an entanglement of sub- and trans-national—as well as personal—influences.Show less
The growing tide of nationalism in the People's Republic of China had increased the need to gain insight into discourses around national identity. This thesis analyses the Chinese self through its...Show moreThe growing tide of nationalism in the People's Republic of China had increased the need to gain insight into discourses around national identity. This thesis analyses the Chinese self through its depiction in the CCTV-series "Foreigner in China". Through its depiction of both foreigners and minority ethnicities living in the PRC and its implicit comparison to the Chinese 'self', the series appears to align closely to the division of traits as originally described in Said's "Orientalism". The Chinese self, therefore, is constructed by mirroring itself both with an Occidental other, the foreigner, and an Oriental other, the minorities depicted in the series.Show less
Academics are concerned about declining political participation among the youth in established democracies and for a good reason. In recent years, declining voter turnout of citizens under the age...Show moreAcademics are concerned about declining political participation among the youth in established democracies and for a good reason. In recent years, declining voter turnout of citizens under the age of 29 has demonstrated the youth's indifference towards politics. There are several contradicting theories on why this phenomenon takes place. However, we can roughly distinguish two views: On the one side, academics condemn youth for having no political interest or knowledge and thus label the youth as 'apathetic.' Alternatively, some scholars agree that growing levels of education and income have resulted in young people acquiring more political understanding. As a result, the youth has managed to apply this newfound knowledge and employ alternative ways of political participation. Similar theories about youth participation and apathy exist in the world's largest existing democracy, India. However, considerably less research has been conducted on alternative trends of youth participation in this 'non-Western' region. To raise awareness of this issue, this thesis will contribute to the existing literature by establishing a pattern of youth political participation in the Indian state of Kerala. This research will show that a unique combination of exceptional socio-economic standards and traditional Indian values has produced a unique pattern of political participation, invalidating the theory of youth apathy.Show less
This thesis takes an in-depth look at policies and measures that the Chinese government has taken that will make it desirable to bear more children and how this has possibly changed the Chinese...Show moreThis thesis takes an in-depth look at policies and measures that the Chinese government has taken that will make it desirable to bear more children and how this has possibly changed the Chinese Communist Party’s perception of gender.Show less
