In the contemporary age, e-governance as an approach to urban politics aims at strengthening the connectivity amongst various stakeholders. Avenues for discourse between governments and the public...Show moreIn the contemporary age, e-governance as an approach to urban politics aims at strengthening the connectivity amongst various stakeholders. Avenues for discourse between governments and the public are provided through digital platforms. This is done with the intent of establishing a citizen-centric environment. In South Korea, succeeding democratization in the late 1970s and 1980s, citizens as integral to public administration came to the forefront in contemporary urban life. Seoul and Incheon represent two major smart cities, for which digital technologies are the foundation. In South Korea, swift developments in e-governance have consequently resulted in a research gap. To challenge this, the study considers the primary digital government platforms of Seoul and Incheon. Through a content analysis, the effectiveness of the platforms in building social capital and citizen-centricity is deduced. Then, the outcome is interpreted through a revised ladder of citizen participation. The results signify various opportunities and flaws in its e-governance. In Seoul, connectivity as a means of boosting civic empowerment is addressed effectively. Still, citizens are limited in the co-creation process of daily urban policies. In Incheon, basic elements of open data and communication are addressed. Yet, consequences of citizen’s input remain largely unaddressed. South Korean policy makers may therefore take note of these repercussions to establish a more effective and efficient digital platform apparatus.Show less
In formal peace negotiations, women often do not get a seat at the table. However, the growing field of everyday peacebuilding argues that peacebuilding does not only take place at the negotiation...Show moreIn formal peace negotiations, women often do not get a seat at the table. However, the growing field of everyday peacebuilding argues that peacebuilding does not only take place at the negotiation table, but also in everyday interactions between “normal” people. In order to find out how everyday peacebuilding works, this research project uses the case study of women in Lebanon to explore in what ways women in Lebanon contribute to peacebuilding in informal and non-organised ways. Hereby this study fills a significant research gap, as no research has yet been done on women and everyday peacebuilding in Lebanon. Through carrying out and analysing qualitative interviews with Lebanese women, this study concludes that the women contribute to everyday peacebuilding by avoiding conflicts and expressing unity and solidarity between groups in Lebanese society. The women recognise these actions as important parts of peacebuilding, and do not see a gendered element in their actions.Show less
This paper opens a discussion into sustainable practices and their influences on museums. It specifically examines how museums have used fashion and textile exhibitions to advocate for...Show moreThis paper opens a discussion into sustainable practices and their influences on museums. It specifically examines how museums have used fashion and textile exhibitions to advocate for sustainability while further presenting suggestions on how museums can proceed with sustainable goals in mind. Understanding that sustainability in museums needs collaborative and international aid to be implemented successfully, this research hopes to deepen scholarly pursuits in this subject by analysing how European museums have fostered environmental awareness and how they have used collective action to educate audiences on the interplay of materials and sustainability ethics.Show less
My thesis focuses on a specific Dehua porcelain Guanyin statue in the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A 19-1886), a mother-like Guanyin holding a boy-like child in her arms with Buddhist symbols...Show moreMy thesis focuses on a specific Dehua porcelain Guanyin statue in the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A 19-1886), a mother-like Guanyin holding a boy-like child in her arms with Buddhist symbols around them. This statue and its variations flooded into Europe in the eighteenth century, arousing discussions about the iconography of Child-giving Guanyin. Their popularity in Europe has been generally attributed to the resemblance to Madonna and Child. This thesis disagrees with the conventional interpretation, and explores Buddhist images in the context of transcultural objects from the 15th to the 18th century. This approach highlights the interactions between material change, religious representations and transcultural objects. Porcelain Guanyin statues worked as mediators between the deity and worshippers. V&A 19-1886 depicts Guanyin of the South Sea holding a child, which represents compassion and nurturing. Such Buddhist images emerged in the late Ming, when the cult of Guanyin underwent popularization and secularization, and attracted a universal appeal in the transcultural context. Instead of reducing the Child-giving Guanyin porcelain statues to mere visual parallels with Madonna and Child, this analysis underscores the significance of contextual shifts in transforming religious objects across diverse cultural landscapes, and enriches our understanding of the dynamic process.Show less
The Eurozone crisis is an example of how democratic regimes can be threatened under emergencies, and it revealed two contributing phenomena – the state of exception and technocracy. This thesis...Show moreThe Eurozone crisis is an example of how democratic regimes can be threatened under emergencies, and it revealed two contributing phenomena – the state of exception and technocracy. This thesis aims to understand the link between the two in the context of emergency politics, through the paradox of politics. This paradox, which can be traced back to Rousseau, brings to light an aporia in democratic politics, where we need good citizens to make good laws and good laws to make good citizens. This thesis starts by analysing each phenomenon individually and the way they threaten democracy. It then interprets them through the paradox of politics as arrangements meant to resolve that paradox, but infringing upon the ideal of democracy it subscribes to (inspired by the analysis of political theorist Bonnie Honig). Finally, it analyses the link between them and the potentials for the democratization of emergency politics. The main conclusions are 1) in emergency politics, technocracy and exception display a link of mutual reinforcement that infringes upon democratic politics (empirically and conceptually), and 2) the democratization of emergency politics requires not only a deexceptionalization of emergency (as suggested by Honig), but also a process of detechnocratization of democracy.Show less
This thesis studies the factors that have influenced Taiwanese cyberse- curity governance, starting with the conception of cybersecurity. The theo- retical frameworks of securitization and threat...Show moreThis thesis studies the factors that have influenced Taiwanese cyberse- curity governance, starting with the conception of cybersecurity. The theo- retical frameworks of securitization and threat politics are employed for this purpose. A collection of 66 policy papers, government reports, and speeches by Taiwanese officials on cybersecurity was compiled for this purpose. Dis- course analysis was done through several rounds of coding, leading to the creation of two frames that represent Taiwanese policy makers’ conception of cybersecurity: the Digital Development Frame and the National Defense Frame. The Digital Development Frame views cybersecurity as an oppor- tunity for innovation and growth in Taiwan, with cybersecurity serving as its foundation. The National Defense Frame emphasizes the security threat posed by cyberattacks to Taiwanese society. These two frameworks high- light how the conception of cybersecurity by policy makers change which factors are relevant, and what policies are implemented. Relevant external factors were found to be: the threat landscape, local political and economic context, and the positioning of the state towards the private sector.Show less
Based on an extensive and critical literature review, this paper conducts a "horizontal" comparison of the image of the legendary Chinese poet Qu Yuan in the works of two significant modern Chinese...Show moreBased on an extensive and critical literature review, this paper conducts a "horizontal" comparison of the image of the legendary Chinese poet Qu Yuan in the works of two significant modern Chinese poets, Wen Yiduo and Guo Moruo. It re-examines how Qu Yuan was regarded as a "people's poet" by the public in the twentieth century and explores the different purposes behind Wen Yiduo's and Guo Moruo's praise of Qu Yuan. The article also highlights that their respective studies on Qu Yuan remain relevant today.Show less
This thesis examines China’s cultural (foreign) policies. Taking a sample of three different case studies, this thesis aims to find an answer to the question of how China is using cultural heritage...Show moreThis thesis examines China’s cultural (foreign) policies. Taking a sample of three different case studies, this thesis aims to find an answer to the question of how China is using cultural heritage as a means to becoming a modern imperial power. A possible reason for the Chinese government to do this is that the current global power dynamic is shifting eastwards, away from the U.S., and towards China. Over the three case studies, which all fall into a different type of imperialism, it becomes clear that the cultural heritage policies China employs are not just soft power, but indeed are cultural imperialism.Show less
