This thesis focusses on the question: How has the Chinese propaganda department propagated stories in and outside of China through its new-type mainstream media since the 18th CCP Congress in 2012?...Show moreThis thesis focusses on the question: How has the Chinese propaganda department propagated stories in and outside of China through its new-type mainstream media since the 18th CCP Congress in 2012? The CPD endeavours to send a coherent message to different audiences in order to enhance China’s international image by applying a new media-management strategy that aims at telling better stories to the world about China. This thesis endeavours to identify the rationales of the CPD through an analysis of its structure and the aims of the new media-management strategy. As a case study, eight video clips will be analysed, interpreted and discussed alongside the academic research in order to draw conclusions. On the basis of the video clip analyses, the conclusion is that the CPD tells four different narratives at this moment: the Chinese Dream and rejuvenation discourse; the Belt and Road Initiative; China’s desire to pursue diversity and inclusivity for all in the international system; and using Xi Jinping as a popular idol. Moreover, this thesis shows that the clips fit in the longer tradition of Chinese political communication in the form of visual tifa.Show less
This thesis focuses on two novels of early 2000s Beijing: "Beijing Doll" by Chun Sue and "Fucker" by Yin Lichuan. These authors are often labelled as 'beauty writers' and are therefore associated...Show moreThis thesis focuses on two novels of early 2000s Beijing: "Beijing Doll" by Chun Sue and "Fucker" by Yin Lichuan. These authors are often labelled as 'beauty writers' and are therefore associated with the a group of Shanghai-based authors. This thesis focuses on beauty and gender structures within these novels to find out if these authors are challenging the traditional patriarchal gender construction. This thesis also looks into the role of (domestic and international) publishers into the branding of these authors.Show less
A comparative study of two memorials and their museums (Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Yasukuni Shrine) in Japan, with an insight on the public opinion of the two on the web.
This thesis analyses newspaper articles from two state-led newspapers of the PRC regarding the phone-call between the president of the US, Donald Trump, and president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, on...Show moreThis thesis analyses newspaper articles from two state-led newspapers of the PRC regarding the phone-call between the president of the US, Donald Trump, and president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, on December 2, 2016. This phone call suggested a possible attempt by the US to undermine the One-China policy, an essential part of China’s international relations. This thesis links the outcomes of the discourse analysis with the literature review, which explains the importance of discourse in international relations and the construction of a national identity. The analysis mainly focuses on three discourse topics and discursive strategies (intertextuality, language and pictures) of the newspaper articles. Both parts concentrate on the different identity manoeuvres which construct a notion of China’s national identity. Analysing the different articles showed that this phone call was an unexpected and an unacceptable event for the PRC. The discourse regarding China’s military power occurs quite strong in the period after the phone call. With regard to the construction of national identity, concluded is that the newspaper articles construct an identity of China which is ‘unassailable’ for any changes from external actors in Sino-U.S. or cross-strait relations. The position of Taiwan in China’s identity is constructed in a conflicting way by the articles. Language features often identify Taiwan as the ‘other’, which excludes Taiwan from China’s identity. However, when speaking about Sino-U.S. relations, Taiwan is included in China’s identity.Show less
This study introduces three typologies (bao, baoying and baochou) for the analysis of wuxia films. It proposes a more nuanced way of analysing revenge, punishment and justice in (Chinese) action film.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been recognized as the most successful regional cooperative and multilateral effort in the history of Southeast Asia. This is due to the...Show moreThe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been recognized as the most successful regional cooperative and multilateral effort in the history of Southeast Asia. This is due to the ability to create and maintain peace and stability in a region that is formed by ten countries with extremely diverse political, economic and socio-cultural backgrounds. Conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea by four ASEAN countries (Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines) with the territorial lines drawn by China, remain the most pressing challenge for the region and represents a worrying geopolitical struggle that is difficult to reconcile with the common perception of ASEAN as a strong and united regional powerhouse. ASEAN has assumed the South China Sea issue under its multilateral framework, involving China in the creation of a code of conduct in the SCS. Despite these efforts, the position of ASEAN itself on this issue has been inconsistent, as evidenced in its political stance through its annual statement and communique. While the main literature has observed this phenomenon under the assumption that the ever-growing Chinese economic power, is the element that could explain what we are observing in the region, I argue that even though the economic power of Beijing does play an important role, it is not enough to explain the various positions that we are seeing between the member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and that other factors need to be taken into consideration to better understand the underlying mechanisms that are at play in the region .Show less
Since the the so-called Technical Intern Training Program in Japan was first established, constant scandals of this program have been revealed by different media and governmental organizations. It...Show moreSince the the so-called Technical Intern Training Program in Japan was first established, constant scandals of this program have been revealed by different media and governmental organizations. It has been criticized not only because of the hidden purpose of recruiting cheap foreign labor, but also because of the astonishing rate of laws violated by the Japanese employers within this program. Comparing to it decades ago, people nowadays can access the internet very conveniently. Therefore, the information they have acquired about this program through internet is assumed to be more thorough than it was in the days people could only rely on papers. However, the fact is that, according to the statistics of Ministry of Justice (2018), in the past 10 years, the number of new foreign trainees has surprisingly grown 168%, from 89,033 (2007) to 274,233 (2017). Therefore, to figure out the driving forces behind those trainees and what gives them the confidence to overcome those problems revealed by scandals is my main topic in this thesis.Show less
Jan Jacob Maria de Groot (1854 – 1921) was an important scientist who worked as a sinologist for the Dutch government and taught at the university of Leiden and Berlin. During his life, he studied...Show moreJan Jacob Maria de Groot (1854 – 1921) was an important scientist who worked as a sinologist for the Dutch government and taught at the university of Leiden and Berlin. During his life, he studied the religious customs of Chinese people in Indonesia as well as elsewhere. He was one of the great curators of the Leiden collection and also curated in Berlin, but his work was removed after his death. In this thesis, the progressive development of his works will be sketched; an attempt will be made to understand his relevance and function within the history of sinology in Leiden; and finally, his relationship to the Dutch colonial government will be put in a post-colonial perspective. Ultimately, the goal of the work is find out what Jan Jacob Maria de Groot’s goals and ambitions meant for the Dutch colonial government, and why his relevance in the history of sinology is often understated.Show less
China’s rise came with relatively modest objectives compared to their weight; they have not been trying to rule the Asia-Pacific let alone the world. Recently, however, Beijing has started to more...Show moreChina’s rise came with relatively modest objectives compared to their weight; they have not been trying to rule the Asia-Pacific let alone the world. Recently, however, Beijing has started to more pro-actively claim their space in the international community, best exemplified by their establishment of the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB) in 2013. This multilateral development bank is part of China’s “great power diplomacy“ efforts launched by Xi Jinping, a bank of which the ideological and political motivations remain unclear and are speculated upon among media and within academic circles. Hence this paper’s focus on the question “why did China establish the AIIB and what motivations have informed its creation?”. Using the Neo-Gramscian critical theory of hegemony for international relations, this paper focuses on ideas and ideological narratives that could have potentially informed the motivations behind the creation of the AIIB. The paper is a response to the predominantly realist and liberal institutionalist literature on China’s rise, and aims to go beyond the self-affirming nature of state-centric analysis. The literature review is structured around three central topics: China’s rise and internationalization, its engagement with institutions and multilateralism, and the establishment of the AIIB. Following the literature review, the case study investigates a possible interrelation between China’s historical political traditions, Xi’s recent ambitions in global governance, and the motivations behind the creation of the AIIB. The paper argues that the creation of the AIIB is informed by a number of motivations that are beyond its official narrative, namely that the bank 1) redistributes the industrial overcapacity of China’s core industries; 2) helps maintain economic growth by opening up new markets, or as an 3) alternative institution in response to a failing global governance system. Most importantly, 4) the AIIB is argued to potentially function as a transnational mechanism to extend China’s domestic social relations in the form of ideas, norms, and values on a diplomatic, economic, and cultural level through project engagement in member states. The AIIB’s motivations are therefore not merely informed by economic or institutional motives, but also by socially informed ideological debates that find their basis on all levels of Chinese society.Show less
This study analyzes the experience of Daoism in the Netherlands among practitioners of three body practices: taijiquan, qigong and Healing Tao. It describes how this ancient Chinese tradition has...Show moreThis study analyzes the experience of Daoism in the Netherlands among practitioners of three body practices: taijiquan, qigong and Healing Tao. It describes how this ancient Chinese tradition has found its place in the daily life of practitioners of three “Daoist” body practices and how the practitioners experience Daoism. Through analyzing qualitative interviews with teachers and students practicing taijiquan, qigong and Healing Tao, this thesis shows that Daoism in the Netherlands is mostly experienced as a practical guideline and serves as the basis for these body practices. For a significant number of practitioners, Daoism is applicable everywhere and gives meaning to life. It explains the world around the practitioners without requiring a strong “belief” in anything. Some practitioners connect Daoism and their body practice to its Chinese origin, whereas others believe the underlying principles are the most important. Through this analyzation, it becomes clear that Daoism is experienced stronger in the Netherlands than was expected prior to this research.Show less
Seoul has continuously been reshaped by nation-building strategies that project the image of the nation through urban space. From the 1970s onwards, this image has drastically changed by rapid...Show moreSeoul has continuously been reshaped by nation-building strategies that project the image of the nation through urban space. From the 1970s onwards, this image has drastically changed by rapid industrialization and the creation of a ‘national heritage’ canon under the Park Chung Hee government. Subsequent governments have invested in the 'politics of memory' to strengthen their regimes: complete urban compounds were demolished and replaced by monuments, museums, public plazas, and impressive urban projects that have recently turned Seoul into a 'soft’, playful and global city. However, current Seoul Mayor Park Won Soon has shifted his focus on urban revitalization instead of demolition. His ‘Seoul Future Heritage Program’, in which ‘Industrial Heritage’ plays a crucial role, reflects the approach of ‘heritagization’, the creation of heritage, to revitalize decaying structures in the city. Seoullo 7017, a deteriorating traffic overpass turned into a green walkway, and Again Sewoon, an old arcade ‘revived’ by inviting startups and creative events, were elevated as ‘Industrial Heritage’ and imagined alongside the nation’s ‘traditional’ heritage in a naturalized narrative portraying the nation’s culture and progress. Both projects were designed to attract daily citizen activity and engagement with their heritage value through information signs, public campaigns, and pedestrian accessibility. Altogether, Mayor Park’s policy shows a crucial shift in attention towards experiential heritage, in which industrial architecture is firmly placed within the national heritage narrative.Show less
In this thesis, research is done on identity change of Chinese students in the Netherlands. Three aspects of identity change have been focused on: filial identity change, religious identity change,...Show moreIn this thesis, research is done on identity change of Chinese students in the Netherlands. Three aspects of identity change have been focused on: filial identity change, religious identity change, and political identity change.Show less
This thesis focusses on nine traditional Balinese paintings collected by Ir. T.A. Resink and purchased by the Museum Volkenkunde in 1971. By first identifying the nine paintings that protray the...Show moreThis thesis focusses on nine traditional Balinese paintings collected by Ir. T.A. Resink and purchased by the Museum Volkenkunde in 1971. By first identifying the nine paintings that protray the Arjunawiwaha story it is possible to give more insight into the relationship between the paintings and the textual tradition, and try to contextualize the paintings in their cultural setting.Show less
In the years 1663-1665, the Danish King Frederick III (1609-1670) had the walls of his cabinet in Rosenborg Castle entirely covered by black lacquer panels by the Dutch artist François de Bray (c....Show moreIn the years 1663-1665, the Danish King Frederick III (1609-1670) had the walls of his cabinet in Rosenborg Castle entirely covered by black lacquer panels by the Dutch artist François de Bray (c. 1642-c. 1672). This room later became known as the "Chinese Tower Room". This thesis discusses the design of the "Chinese Tower Room" by tracing its history since the time of King Christian IV (1577-1648), the first Danish monarch with an interest in Asian objects, and also in relation to the environment of lacquer workers in the Dutch Republic, from where many artists working at the Danish court originated. Transculturation, the transformation of a culture by the influx of new cultural elements and the loss or alteration of existing ones, played an important role in the room's creation. It created a new symbolic cultural language that was used to reinforce the status of the monarch and the existing ideologies that legitimized his position.Show less
Over the past decade Japanese popular culture has become increasingly well-known, and Japan has attempted to actively promote this development through its nation branding program 'Cool Japan'. This...Show moreOver the past decade Japanese popular culture has become increasingly well-known, and Japan has attempted to actively promote this development through its nation branding program 'Cool Japan'. This thesis analyses whether Cool Japan can be considered a successful program in the Netherlands when it comes to exhibitions as a vehicle for Japanese soft power by looking at three exhibitions: Cool Japan (2017, National Museum of World Cultures), Kingdom of Characters (2014, Japanmuseum SieboldHuis), and Hello Kitty - Hello Holland (2011, Japanmuseum SieboldHuis). Three separate analyses cover to what extent Japanese institutions are involved with these exhibitions, how visitors experience the exhibition and whether they learn anything new at all, as well as the exhibitions' effect on Dutch consumerism of Japanese popular culture.Show less
The main focus of this paper was to examine the role of the Chinese government in the development of its state-owned airlines. Usually, state-owned enterprises have not been considered competitive...Show moreThe main focus of this paper was to examine the role of the Chinese government in the development of its state-owned airlines. Usually, state-owned enterprises have not been considered competitive in a market due to the lack of efficiency and incentives compared to privately-owned enterprises. However, the recent growth of Chinese state-owned airlines compared to other Asian airlines indicates that these enterprises are able to compete successfully with privately-owned airlines. Therefore, this paper tried to explain why these airlines have been able to do this, by focusing on the strong role played by its owner, the Chinese government. Due to this ownership, the government has significant influence on the market on both the regulatory and the operational sides of the Chinese airline industry. This paper has shown that the Chinese government provided its airlines with favourable policies aimed at reducing competition, especially in the domestic market. Through regulatory and financial support, the airlines have faced few difficulties in competing in the airline industry and therefore could successfully develop to being part of Asia’s largest airlines.Show less
In recent years, the complex relationship between Hong Kong society and the growing Mainland Chinese political influence has led to active outbursts of civil dissatisfaction. A large component of...Show moreIn recent years, the complex relationship between Hong Kong society and the growing Mainland Chinese political influence has led to active outbursts of civil dissatisfaction. A large component of this unease is the anti-Mainland sentiment, aimed at both the government and Chinese immigrants and tourists. Additionally, the prevalence of the Mandarin language and the Simplified Chinese script has increased, in local schools, on television, in the workplace and in the streets. Since both the language issues of Hong Kong and the socio-political issues associated with the Mainland Chinese influence have gotten increasing attention, it makes one wonder whether there is a form of correlation and plausible causation between these two factors. Thus, using news articles, social media, a survey and youth responses this paper will attempt to answer the question; Do attitudes regarding the Mandarin and Cantonese language in Hong Kong reflect a political stance vis-à-vis Mainland China and Hong Kong?Show less
The aim of this research was to investigate the occurrence of rendaku in Japanese place names based on two aspects: the region in which a name occurs and the final element of the name. By using a...Show moreThe aim of this research was to investigate the occurrence of rendaku in Japanese place names based on two aspects: the region in which a name occurs and the final element of the name. By using a database from the Japan Post, 39 place names that showed variation in rendaku occurrence were investigated. It was expected that rendaku would occur in place names according to a core periphery model, where place names located in the core area would have a higher rendaku rate. The results showed that for many names, the rendaku rate was higher in the more central Kanto, Chubu or Kinki areas compared to the peripheral areas. Furthermore, it was expected that rendaku in names ending with the same element would show a similar geographical distribution across Japan. The results showed that all names ending with kawa behaved similarly, while for other elements the rendaku pattern varied per individual name. This thesis therefore concludes that rendaku in Japanese place names occurs according to a certain pattern, although this pattern varies per name. Further research, especially regarding accent patterns, is necessary in order to explain the variation of rendaku in Japanese place names.Show less
