The Chinese Dream has been a buzzword for theorizing about China's future ever since Xi Jinping took office in 2012. But what does it mean for ordinary Chinese people? How big can their dreams get...Show moreThe Chinese Dream has been a buzzword for theorizing about China's future ever since Xi Jinping took office in 2012. But what does it mean for ordinary Chinese people? How big can their dreams get in a society that seems to revolve around the group and not the individual?Show less
Korean unification is a concept that seems impractical and unwanted by the Republic of Korea. Yet the government continues to purport its desire for it, primarily romanticising a reunited Korean...Show moreKorean unification is a concept that seems impractical and unwanted by the Republic of Korea. Yet the government continues to purport its desire for it, primarily romanticising a reunited Korean bloodline. This project analyses the reasons and causes for this continued use of ethnic nationalism and explore how it shapes the very meaning of unification. Primarily, it is a speech act incorporated into the larger foreign policy of the Republic of Korea, mobilised for self-promotion and achieving its own interests.Show less
In this thesis I have investigated the use of the Chinese space programme in public diplomacy strategies. There is a gap between the image the Chinese government tries to project and China's...Show moreIn this thesis I have investigated the use of the Chinese space programme in public diplomacy strategies. There is a gap between the image the Chinese government tries to project and China's behaviour on the world stage. While the intended image is that of a peace-loving nation that uses its space programme for scientific purposes that will benefit mankind, on a security level China uses its space programme for military applications and power projection. I have investigated this divergence and speculated on the future space power dynamics.Show less
Japan has been dealing with a decreasing fertility rate for decades. This has had a direct effect on Japan’s labor force, as they now face shortages. Another reason for the lack of labor force...Show moreJapan has been dealing with a decreasing fertility rate for decades. This has had a direct effect on Japan’s labor force, as they now face shortages. Another reason for the lack of labor force participation is due to the low female labor force participation in the Japanese labor market. The Japanese government has been actively implementing policies to attract more female labor force by either eradicating workspace sexism or by investing more into childcare. Some of these major policies are the Equal Employment Opportunity Law (EEOL), Child Care Leave Act and Child Care and Family Leave Law, Angel Plan and New Angel Plan. While some policies have helped alleviate some of the burdens Japanese women carry, the female workforce participation is still low, as is the fertility rate. Furthermore, although the Japanese government actively seeks to resolve these issues, the motive behind it is ambiguous, as the issue of gender equality and sexism are often used as false incentives, especially during elections. The male-dominated corporate culture present in Japan also further fuels this. Thus, solutions become harder to reach while the issues still remain prevalent.Show less
This thesis researched how four large newspapers: People’s Daily（人民日报）and Southern Metropolis Daily （南方都市报）both from China, and Apple Daily （苹果日报）and Ta Kung Pao (大公报), based in Hong Kong, reported...Show moreThis thesis researched how four large newspapers: People’s Daily（人民日报）and Southern Metropolis Daily （南方都市报）both from China, and Apple Daily （苹果日报）and Ta Kung Pao (大公报), based in Hong Kong, reported on the massive demonstrations of mid-September 2014, following the decision of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on August 31st to hold elections for the Chief Executive of Hong Kong in 2017.Show less
Japan is facing an aging society and a low birth rate, which turned out to be a dreadful combination. In order to “save Japan” from extinction and economical degradation, the Japanese government...Show moreJapan is facing an aging society and a low birth rate, which turned out to be a dreadful combination. In order to “save Japan” from extinction and economical degradation, the Japanese government made effort in taking some measurements they saw as the best acceptable solutions. The most important of these included increasing the number of women, elderly, and even robots in the labor force to fill the labor shortages, while stimulating women to have more children at the same time. However, many scholars and other organizations such as the International Monetary Fund have criticized the Japanese government’s strategy stating that the only way to really save Japan is to increase the extremely low share of foreigners in Japan. One would think that this solution would not be too big a problem to implement, especially in such a highly globalized world. However, for Japan this turned out not to be the case. In order to understand why Japan as one of the biggest industrialized countries has so few foreigners even in a globalizing era, this thesis has looked at different factors that have influenced this outcome. This has clearly shown that Japan in fact chooses to remain ethnically and culturally homogeneous.Show less
Yang Guifei is considered to be one of China’s most beautiful women. Her beauty is portrayed in several Chinese historical and literary writings over the ages. Each generation of (mostly male)...Show moreYang Guifei is considered to be one of China’s most beautiful women. Her beauty is portrayed in several Chinese historical and literary writings over the ages. Each generation of (mostly male) authors is influenced by the technique of the male gaze and imbued her with their own contemporary beauty ideals creating new, updated versions of Yang as the perfect beauty. Most of the descriptions of Yang Guifei’s beauty tend to be general and are applicable to any beautiful woman in premodern China. Trends that remain consistent through time are cloud-like hair, red cheeks and lips, a creamy bosom and a white skin. Changes in the portrayal of her beauty can be found in the way of presenting her physique and feet.Show less
This paper examines how rapid transformation of the food supply chain and continued state reform of food regulation is shaping the relationship between the State and private food processing...Show moreThis paper examines how rapid transformation of the food supply chain and continued state reform of food regulation is shaping the relationship between the State and private food processing industry and affecting food safety control systems. My findings reveal that the Chinese State is not relinquishing control of the food supply chain for the benefit of self-regulation of food production companies. On the contrary, the State appears to be tightening its grip on the course of national industry development through direct and indirect interference in the food supply chain, and an intensification of legislative and regulatory control, in order to secure national food supply and increase food safety and quality. Through an analysis of a production level perception of development of the State's influence versus self-regulation in a two-step exploratory research, I reason that, in contrast to the ambiguity portrayed in the literature, food processors are not confused about the State's strategy, the division of responsibilities or the role of industry associations. Furthermore, I observe that both consumers and processors recognise that, in China's current phase of development, strict state control is probably the best way forward. Finally, based on analysis of the current stakeholders' perceptions of risks and responsibilities in the rapidly transforming food supply chain in China, I raise doubts about the application of Beck's theory of 'risk society' to China.Show less
Between 2007 and 2012 Bo Xilai served as Party Secretary in Chongqing. During this time a discussion began around what became known as the Chongqing model. What was this model? What role did Bo...Show moreBetween 2007 and 2012 Bo Xilai served as Party Secretary in Chongqing. During this time a discussion began around what became known as the Chongqing model. What was this model? What role did Bo Xilai play in creating and popularizing the model? How did Bo Xilai use this model for his own purposes? How has Xi Jinping copied the Chongqing model?Show less
With the demise of communism as a unifying ideological force, the contemporary Chinese leadership is in a rather dire situation. As economic performance alone proves insufficiently capable of...Show moreWith the demise of communism as a unifying ideological force, the contemporary Chinese leadership is in a rather dire situation. As economic performance alone proves insufficiently capable of binding all citizens in the PRC territory to its political center, China's leaders have turned to nationalism for the solution. A major problem with promoting nationalism as a state-sponsored and state-guided ideology is that it too easily slides down to just being chauvinism for and by the majority Han ethnicity. The danger here is that this will alienate China's numerous so-called ethnic minorities. This thesis looks at one of the possible solutions to this existential problem to the Chinese nation state. The promotion of "zhonghua minzu" as a method of detaching ethnic connotations, and attaching more political connotations, to Chinese nationalism is the focus of the present work. It deals with efforts by the Chinese leadership since the rise of Xi Jinping to the position of Chairman to instill a sense of being Chinese in all China's citizens without depending on rhetorics of common blood, language, or religion. The author has tried to assess, and to an extent predict, the meassure of success these policies may have in keeping the PRC a unified nation and state.Show less
This thesis covers about the resinification efforts performed by Chinese schools in Netherlands Indies on the early 20th century. The schools being analyzed were THHK schools and HCS schools. This...Show moreThis thesis covers about the resinification efforts performed by Chinese schools in Netherlands Indies on the early 20th century. The schools being analyzed were THHK schools and HCS schools. This thesis also talks about whether HCS schools had performed any resinification efforts, despite they were made by the Dutch colonial government.Show less
