During the 2019 Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Bill protests, activists have created urban art as an expression of their political beliefs and collective identity. This research explores how urban art...Show moreDuring the 2019 Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Bill protests, activists have created urban art as an expression of their political beliefs and collective identity. This research explores how urban art as a medium represents the postcolonial collective identity of the people of Hong Kong. This research will analyze selected urban art from the 2019 Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Bill Protests through the methodology of semiotic art analysis. The primary objective of this paper is to research the collective postcolonial identity experienced amongst the people of Hong Kong. Through the case study of Hong Kong, this paper demonstrates how postcolonial identities are expressed in the context of urban protest art. Moreover, this paper showcases the role of urban art in resisting colonial structures of power.Show less
This thesis investigates state identity articulations in foreign policy regarding the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) within the context of a deteriorating security...Show moreThis thesis investigates state identity articulations in foreign policy regarding the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) within the context of a deteriorating security environment in Northeast Asia. Through a critical constructivist approach, the study explores how South Korea’s collective memory of historical experiences with Japan has influenced South Korea's foreign policy decisions and bilateral relations with Japan from 2012 to 2023. The findings show that the increasing need for security cooperation reconstructs South Korea’s national identity. South Korea’s colonial memories have impeded an approach toward future-oriented policies regarding the GSOMIA. However, under the current Yoon administration, South Korea appears to prioritize bilateral security cooperation with Japan instead of reproducing the historical disputes, resulting in the improvement of South Korea-Japan relations. This study contributes to the current scholarship on identity and IR by showing how state identity shapes international relations, with a focus on how state identity articulations in foreign policy manifest and transform amidst increasing security threats, and its impact on bilateral ties.Show less
