Since the initial commercialization of the men’s Chinese professional football league, Chinese actors have started investing increasingly more resources in the foreign football sphere. Players,...Show moreSince the initial commercialization of the men’s Chinese professional football league, Chinese actors have started investing increasingly more resources in the foreign football sphere. Players, coaches, trainers and even clubs from all over the world have all been the subject of Chinese investment over the last few decades. Although spending has increased exponentially, the level of both the Chinese professional competition as well as the men’s national team have not improved at the same rate. This study uses existing literature from both academic sources as well as marketing and news reports on the subject to better understand the reasons to why investing in globalized resources has increased while also providing possible explanations to why the level of competitiveness has not been influenced as much. The study suggests that through the frameworks of soft power and state corporatism we can understand the levels of spending as larger state-driven strategy to both stimulate the football industry as well as to improve China’s soft power through international competitions. This study also suggests that based on the current academic and professional discourse surrounding Chinese competitive football, the reason for professional Chinese clubs’ relative low level of performance is due to a lack of incentive for the clubs to invest in future talent development. Although this study’s conclusions remain to be theories based on the interpretations of other academic researchers and experts, it still confirms that there is still much urgency for further research on this subjectShow less
In China, the term "leftover women" is used to describe young, succesful and single women in their twenties. Popular media depict "leftover women" as picky and selfish. In existing literature the...Show moreIn China, the term "leftover women" is used to describe young, succesful and single women in their twenties. Popular media depict "leftover women" as picky and selfish. In existing literature the role of the Chinese media and state in creating this image is often discussed. But how much influence does this image have on the next generation of Chinese women? And do they make important choices in life in order to avoid becoming a "leftover woman"? By conducting in-depth interviews with young Chinese women that study in the Netherlands, this study aims to create an understanding of their opinion about "leftover women" and how their life is influenced by the image around "leftover women".Show less
