The 'salaryman' lifestyle that long formed the basis of the Japanese working culture has long been criticised, which has only been increasing since the start of the Lost Decades. However, the ...Show moreThe 'salaryman' lifestyle that long formed the basis of the Japanese working culture has long been criticised, which has only been increasing since the start of the Lost Decades. However, the 'salaryman' has incorporated itself too deeply into the psyche of Japanese society to be dismissed as an obsolete cultural icon.Show less
Since the start of the Syrian civil war, 11 million people have been displaced from their homes and 5 million of them have had to flee to neighboring countries and beyond. As the UNHCR calls for...Show moreSince the start of the Syrian civil war, 11 million people have been displaced from their homes and 5 million of them have had to flee to neighboring countries and beyond. As the UNHCR calls for action and encourages governments to open their borders in the face of what they have labeled “the biggest humanitarian refugee crisis of our time”, Japan’s borders remain largely closed to the inflows of refugees - Japan only admitted a total of 28 refugees in 2016. The explanations that the government has been offering about why the system is such a strict one are closely related to national identity building through political discourse. Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe has said that Japan must prioritize national issues before being able to welcome foreign migrants. This statement points towards the key role that a homogeneous society is utmost important in the build-up of Japanese national identity. How does the rather small number of refugee inflows, despite its minimal impacts on Japanese politics and society, remains so unwelcome in Japan? This thesis will provide the reader with a deeper understanding of this question by looking at the impact nationalism plays in Japanese society, the way its collective history is portrayed and in the Japanese migration policies.Show less
The emergence of globalizing companies in China such as Starbucks have different effects on the Chinese society. The changing consumption pattern of the post-Mao generation, especially the middle...Show moreThe emergence of globalizing companies in China such as Starbucks have different effects on the Chinese society. The changing consumption pattern of the post-Mao generation, especially the middle class, is the reason to research Starbucks’ presence in China. The company’s influence will be examined through the lens of three concepts: Starbucks’ as a foreign company, its influence on the Chinese state, and the emergence of individualization in a post-Mao China. I argue that it is necessary to look at the ‘bigger picture’ instead of focussing on only one of the previously mentioned factors. It seems that Starbucks thanks its popularity in China by offering glocalized products and therewith respecting the country’s cultural heritage in the form of traditional cuisine and drinks. The company maintains its relationship with state authorities by launching new projects with involvement of the Chinese government. The fact that Starbucks has so many products stimulates the sense of individuality among its clientele. A multinational foreign company does not only impact the consumption pattern of a population, but it also has implications for a society’s behaviour in general.Show less
The 2016 Hangzhou G20 Summit was an opportunity for China to present itself on the global stage. In this thesis we research how the concept of soft power plays a role in Chinese domestic and...Show moreThe 2016 Hangzhou G20 Summit was an opportunity for China to present itself on the global stage. In this thesis we research how the concept of soft power plays a role in Chinese domestic and foreign policy, and how this is reflected in the approach to the G20.Show less
In the aftermath of a disaster, women’s suffering is often compounded in the face of increased vulnerabilities to physical and mental illness, unsafe temporary living conditions, and the many...Show moreIn the aftermath of a disaster, women’s suffering is often compounded in the face of increased vulnerabilities to physical and mental illness, unsafe temporary living conditions, and the many instances in which women’s opinions, requests, and capabilities are ignored. This thesis discusses gender inequality within post-disaster management in Japan, with a focus on the 2011 Triple Disaster which consisted of an earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown within the Tohoku region. The framework of gender within public health and post-disaster management is used to examine women’s experiences in the response and recovery phases of the Triple Disaster as seen through film and academic literature. This paper argues that the role of women in the aftermath of the disaster reflected and reinforced gender inequality in Japanese society. The inadequate living conditions for women in emergency shelters, the silencing of women’s voices after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, and the distinct lack of female participation in disaster management all give credence to the notion that the gender dimension of disasters was and continues to be significantly overlooked. It is evident that the gender issues present in the aftermath of the 2011 disaster are part of larger societal structures not only in Japan but also in the wider field of public health.Show less
