Cultural exchange is so embedded in daily life that the importance of it for international relations is not apparent. Cultural products or services may unconsciously generate feelings towards the...Show moreCultural exchange is so embedded in daily life that the importance of it for international relations is not apparent. Cultural products or services may unconsciously generate feelings towards the nation they represent. Irish Riverdance, and Chinese dancing, for example, are actively generating emotions and stances among their international audiences, and the exchange of these cultural products generates mutual understanding between these nations. The aim of this thesis is to study the significance of cultural exchange as a means of soft power and cultural diplomacy in international communication and cooperation. The case studies of this thesis are Chinese and Irish performing arts. This study implies that the relations between China and Ireland are positively influenced by cultural diplomacy and soft power.Show less
This thesis is about the study of the impact of responses from (civil) society, the economic market and the national political sphere on the success of cross-border joint ventures in China. Through...Show moreThis thesis is about the study of the impact of responses from (civil) society, the economic market and the national political sphere on the success of cross-border joint ventures in China. Through this study, it will be established that responses from the aforementioned sectors do indeed impact the realization of cross-border joint ventures in China. The origin and role of these responses in facilitating international corporate interaction will also be assessed. Because of the lack of research on cross-border Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) in China, literature has been selected from a variety of perspectives and disciplines. The societal responses have been grouped in three different foci through which the research has been done: (1) external risks inherent to joint ventures and M&A in general, that in the context of the Chinese market are extra compromising; (2) the controlling practices and narrative of the economic nationalist agenda of the Chinese government; (3) (media) discourses and practices that code the consumption of foreign products and/or services through the lens of consumer nationalism. Leading from these foci and the establishment of the existence of an impact, the research question has been tackled from different angles through e.g. case studies, sub-questions and a counterargument. The intended purpose of this enquiry is to contribute to an underdeveloped research field and also aid practitioners’ understanding of Chinese M&A so they can better anticipate and design their cross-border joint ventures in China.Show less
We depend on media for information and the most important distributor thereof are news media. This thesis will evaluate different media perspective of four countries. A comparative quantitative...Show moreWe depend on media for information and the most important distributor thereof are news media. This thesis will evaluate different media perspective of four countries. A comparative quantitative content analysis of sixty-two articles from news websites from China, The U.S., England and the Netherlands aims to identify the different perspectives in the coverage of the event of U.S. President Trump his ‘state visit-plus’ to China. The thesis will address the mechanisms and history behind journalism with special interest in Chinese journalism. This is due to the controlling nature of Chinese domestic politics and the effects thereof on Chinese journalism. Concepts evaluated to obtain a better understanding of China’s media tactics and development are soft power and framing. These concepts, combined with a historical framework and the content analysis will provide a better understanding of the workings of media from different national perspectives.Show less
In 2001, the Chinese government officially recognized Zhongdian County in Yunnan Province as Shangri-La, which is a fictional concept that signifies paradise introduced by the British author James...Show moreIn 2001, the Chinese government officially recognized Zhongdian County in Yunnan Province as Shangri-La, which is a fictional concept that signifies paradise introduced by the British author James Hilton (1933). Ever since the region has been renamed, some visitors have started to express that Shangri-La County has transformed into a theme park and has lost its authenticity. The current essay explored, by using Bryman’s (2004) theory of Disneyization as a framework, whether it can be said that the name change into Shangri-La has changed the region into a theme park. The resources of this research were scholarly literature, travel blogs and TripAdvisor reviews about Shangri-La. Of the four principles mentioned in Disneyization, that all describe a trend common to a theme park, the principles of theming, hybrid consumption and merchandising were all found to be take place in the Shangri-La region. Only performative labor, as defined in the theory, was considerably less present in Shangri-La County. However, in regard to how Chinese theme parks (like Yunnan Ethnic Folk Village) function, such as the lack of smiling service, the principle of performative labor may still apply to Shangri-La. Thus, the result indicates that Shangri-La is comparable to a theme park and that how the theory of Disneyization is defined currently has no universal validity because it takes no cultural differences in account. Furthermore, in view of Jean Baudrillard’s (1994) account of postmodernism, Shangri-La is similar to a theme park in that they both create a hyper-reality in which a highly similar but ‘unreal’ reality is experienced by visitors through the processes of simulation or simulacrum. In this sense, the Shangri-La narrative has bestowed a frame by which tourists started to percept and experience the region’s authenticity. However, considering that Western tourists are predominantly the ones seeking authenticity in Shangri-La – may it be an authentic setting or an authentic self – it is their confrontation with the touristic environments like Dukezong that sways them to evaluate the region as a theme park. The voices of the local population and Chinese tourists were not brought into account in the current research; future research should therefore explore deeper how these groups’ experience the changes in Shangri-La County.Show less
Hoewel academici met name de huidige Chinese consumptiemaatschappij vanuit een Foucaultiaanse invalshoek, is het ook mogelijk om dit te doen vanuit een Gramsciaanse invalshoek. In deze scriptie...Show moreHoewel academici met name de huidige Chinese consumptiemaatschappij vanuit een Foucaultiaanse invalshoek, is het ook mogelijk om dit te doen vanuit een Gramsciaanse invalshoek. In deze scriptie betoog ik waarom dit laatste zinvol is.Show less
Het globaliseringsproces heeft invloed op de ontwikkelingen die China nu doormaakt, en brengt een influx aan onder andere westerse cultuur. Buitenlandse bedrijven die in China gevestigd zijn...Show moreHet globaliseringsproces heeft invloed op de ontwikkelingen die China nu doormaakt, en brengt een influx aan onder andere westerse cultuur. Buitenlandse bedrijven die in China gevestigd zijn verspreiden mede via tv-reclames hun eigen culturele waarden. Maar omdat zij zich aanpassen aan de Chinese markt is er ook sprake van een wisselwerking. De buitenlandse fastfoodketens brengen nieuwe soorten eet-ervaringen met zich mee, en nemen Chinese lokale producten op in hun menu. Zo worden Chinese en buitenlandse culturele waarden wisselend en in combinatie gebruikt. Dit is vooral te zien in fastfoodreclames, die nu overal op tv en internet te vinden zijn.Show less
In this thesis, I discuss about the existence of an art theory in current Chinese policies to answer the main research question: what is Xi’s art theory and how does the Communist Chinese Party ...Show moreIn this thesis, I discuss about the existence of an art theory in current Chinese policies to answer the main research question: what is Xi’s art theory and how does the Communist Chinese Party (CCP) conceive of arts and literature (wenyi文艺)? Since arts and literature have been called upon to support and accelerate the achievement of the country’s goals, I will analyze the current Chinese situation from the perspective of art. Moreover, I will suggest that the formulation of an art theory by Xi, during the Beijing Forum on Literature and Art in 2014 , might be referring to the past to stress the element of continuity as legitimacy for the CCP’s rule and relevance.Show less
This thesis discusses the relationship between Taiwanese television (idol) dramas, advertising - in particular product placement, and the way in which young Taiwanese women, i.e. students between...Show moreThis thesis discusses the relationship between Taiwanese television (idol) dramas, advertising - in particular product placement, and the way in which young Taiwanese women, i.e. students between 18-25 years, identify with popular TV-series. The research itself is based on an on-line survey designed by the author herself.Show less
Over the course of history, the bicycle has earned its place in the Chinese and Taiwanese streets and has long been the primary mode of transportation for many people. Even though both China and...Show moreOver the course of history, the bicycle has earned its place in the Chinese and Taiwanese streets and has long been the primary mode of transportation for many people. Even though both China and Taiwan play a big role in the world’s bicycle market, changes seem to have occurred in the presence of bicycle in the Chinese and Taiwanese streets as well as its corresponding perception. This thesis will reflect on changes in the public perception of bicycles in Taiwan and China in the last 60 years by answering questions such as; how have people’s views on the bicycle and its use changed? How can these changes be explained and does the bicycle have a future in China and Taiwan?Show less
Deze scriptie bespreekt het groeiende Chinese toerisme naar Europa en de mogelijkheden die dit voor Nederland biedt. Door middel van een analyse van het Chinees toerisme in het Nederlandse dorp...Show moreDeze scriptie bespreekt het groeiende Chinese toerisme naar Europa en de mogelijkheden die dit voor Nederland biedt. Door middel van een analyse van het Chinees toerisme in het Nederlandse dorp Giethoorn wordt gekeken naar wat Nederland kan doen om ervoor te zorgen dat de toeristen uit het Chinese cultuurgebied naar Nederland komen.Show less
Dit bachelor werkstuk onderzoekt het consumptiegedrag van Chinese toeristen in outlet stores. Een outlet store is een winkel waar niet-courante collecties van (Westerse) merkproducten worden...Show moreDit bachelor werkstuk onderzoekt het consumptiegedrag van Chinese toeristen in outlet stores. Een outlet store is een winkel waar niet-courante collecties van (Westerse) merkproducten worden verkocht voor 30% tot 70% van de oorspronkelijke prijs. Aangezien er nog geen eerder onderzoek is gedaan naar het consumptiegedrag van Chinese toeristen in outlet stores, ben ik zelf onderzoek gaan doen in de Designer Outlet Roermond, het grootste outlet center van Nederland en onderdeel van McArthurGlen Designer Outlets. Bij dit onderzoek werden Chinese toeristen gevraagd een enquête in te vullen, waarbij ze hun mening moesten geven over merkproducten in outlet stores. Aan de hand van de resultaten van deze enquêtes kan geconcludeerd worden dat: (1) Chinese toeristen de symbolische waarde van een Westers merkproduct uit een outlet store niet minder vinden dan uit een flagship store; (2) sociale status een steeds minder belangrijke reden is om merkproducten te kopen; (3) de Designer Outlet Roermond is succesvol in het verlenen van gastvrijheid aan de ChinezenShow less
