In December 2012, Abe Shinzo was again elected as Prime Minister of Japan and is now in office for almost six years. In those six years, he promised economic growth for Japan, through his policy...Show moreIn December 2012, Abe Shinzo was again elected as Prime Minister of Japan and is now in office for almost six years. In those six years, he promised economic growth for Japan, through his policy Abenomics including womenomics. Likewise, with the Japan-Korea 2015 Agreement, he showed his desire to settle the “comfort women” issue with South Korea. However, both plans have not been accomplished, with the Japanese economy still stagnating, and the “comfort women” still being an issue after the 2015 agreement failed. With womenomics, the goal was to increase the number of working women and increase the number of women in leadership positions. However, with Abe being a supporter of the patriarchal system, it is hard to reach this goal. After analysing the policy womenomics and Abe’s promotion regarding the issue, it can be seen that through Abe’s choice of words, he creates a power discourse, which deepens the gender inequality in society. Abe’s power discourse on womenomics portraits women as helpless beings who need a man’s help to become successful, deepening gender inequality. Similarly, Abe’s revisionist stance caused the agreement to fail, and the “comfort women” to remain an issue. An analysis of Abe’s statement regarding the “comfort women” issue shows his refusal in seeing the “comfort women” as sex slaves, even depicting them as workers for the Japanese Imperial Army during the war. Due to Abe diminishing the victims’ stories and feelings, and portraying them as workers, he aggravates the gender inequality in society. So, Abe’s power discourse of womenomics and the “comfort women issue” makes gender inequality more deep-rooted in society.Show less
“Administratieve detentie” is een term die over de arrestatie en detentie van personen zonder aanklacht of proces gaat. De voornaamste reden dat wordt gegeven is dat de persoon een...Show more“Administratieve detentie” is een term die over de arrestatie en detentie van personen zonder aanklacht of proces gaat. De voornaamste reden dat wordt gegeven is dat de persoon een veiligheidsrisico is voor de Israëlische staat. De detentie wordt toegestaan door middel van een administratief bevel in plaats van het gebruikelijke gerechtelijk decreet. Door middel van een veldonderzoek in de vorm van interviews zal ik ex-gedetineerden vragen stellen mijn hoofdvraag die luidt “In hoeverre heeft administratieve detentie effect op het sociale leven van de Palestijnen die in Administratieve detentie hebben gezeten?”.Show less
Anti-terrorism policy in Japan: Combating a nonexistent threat is a thesis analysing and interpreting Japanese policy in relation to anti-terrorism. By using the methodology of securitization, this...Show moreAnti-terrorism policy in Japan: Combating a nonexistent threat is a thesis analysing and interpreting Japanese policy in relation to anti-terrorism. By using the methodology of securitization, this thesis attempts to answer the following question: "How have security policies of the Japanese Government changed since December 2012 in such a way that laws can be abused?". This is done by looking at Diet meetings (Japanese Parliament) as well as official correspondence between the Japanese Government and other (international) organizations. Lastly, it looks at tangible proof of law abuse.Show less
A window serves as the eye of a building. This thesis attempts to approach the windows of early modern China, roughly from the late Ming to the early Qing period. With the findings, it shows that...Show moreA window serves as the eye of a building. This thesis attempts to approach the windows of early modern China, roughly from the late Ming to the early Qing period. With the findings, it shows that windows served as a practical element as well as a culture symbol. On the one hand, a window could be used to enhance light effects and air circulation; with the coverings, windows created a shelter of privacy for both people inside and outside; windows were also taken into the account of architectural design as an evocative pictorial device. On the other hand, it represented social status and wealth. Windows were also silent statement of the so-called elegant taste, ya. Apart from these, the window motif in literature and art could help to frame an erotic space. It can be concluded that in the early modern period, a window had not only practical functions, but also shouldered multiple cultural symbolic implications.Show less
This thesis attempts to criticize and re-evaluate the idea that the Empress Dowager, who de-facto ruled of the last fifty years of the Qing-dynasty, was a xenophobe ruler, by telling a different...Show moreThis thesis attempts to criticize and re-evaluate the idea that the Empress Dowager, who de-facto ruled of the last fifty years of the Qing-dynasty, was a xenophobe ruler, by telling a different narrative, supported by witnesses and newer material. Other negative historical narratives are also challenged.Show less
Pitch accent is an important but undertaught part of the Japanese language. Differing much from the stress accent found in most Indo-European languages, even learners well into the advanced stage...Show morePitch accent is an important but undertaught part of the Japanese language. Differing much from the stress accent found in most Indo-European languages, even learners well into the advanced stage struggle to utter sentences in a fully native-like manner. Therefore, in this thesis, I tackle the issue of What teaching methods are best suited for pitch accent acquisition (PAA) in the long-term for adult foreign learners of Japanese? I discuss several methods for acquiring pitch accent, and directly compare two of them: Practising with audio-visual stimuli and explaining the rules governing pitch accent. I examined 3 groups of foreign Japanese language learners (n=9) and gave each of them a different set of instructions (or no instruction, in case of thecontrolgroup).Inapretest, posttest, anddelayedposttest, theyweremadeto judge the pitch accent pattern of, and reproduce semi-randomly chosen, common Japanese words. The results suggest that explaining the rules is just as viable an option as compared to traditional training, and that textbook producers and teachers should not be afraid to expose students to the details pitch accent, even in the early stages of their learning. Further study is needed to support these conclusions, and explain what causes some students to respond better to one method over the other.Show less
This study attempts to explore how nationalism plays a role when foreign brands make its entrance into the Chinese market. It examines different kinds of nationalism, e.g. state- nationalism,...Show moreThis study attempts to explore how nationalism plays a role when foreign brands make its entrance into the Chinese market. It examines different kinds of nationalism, e.g. state- nationalism, popular nationalism and the shift towards digital nationalism. Furthermore, it explores how Public Relations (PR) work in China and what foreign brands need to be keep in mind when they want to expand their brand to China. A case study will be conducted in this research regarding the PR disaster of Dolce & Gabbana. This case study uses a visual semiotic analysis to analyze D&G Advertisement. The findings of the analyses highlight how a certain sign that is used in the discourse can be received wrong to the Chinese people and to its nation.Show less
This thesis researches the differences between the way of how Xi Jinping citates the two different philosophical texts, the Laozi and the Lunyu. In my thesis I come to the conclusion that there is...Show moreThis thesis researches the differences between the way of how Xi Jinping citates the two different philosophical texts, the Laozi and the Lunyu. In my thesis I come to the conclusion that there is no difference in the the way of how Xi Jinping refers to both texts. However, it seems that Xi does not always refer to these texts at all. Multiple citations which Xi uses are known sayings in China today. This seems that Xi does not refer to these texts at all, but simply uses known sayings in his speeches.Show less
We are living in the 21st century, a century that is witnessing huge leaps forward in technological innovation, systemic complexity, as well as in societal and environmental challenges which...Show moreWe are living in the 21st century, a century that is witnessing huge leaps forward in technological innovation, systemic complexity, as well as in societal and environmental challenges which continuously confront our identities. Indigenous communities have been especially susceptible to such external pressures, arguably reinforcing their distinct vulnerability levels. Historical marginalization and disempowering processes have not rarely threatened the biological and cultural existence of indigenous groups, which includes ancient cultural forms of identification. In an attempt to unravel Yawanawá-specific intergroup dynamics in threat situations, the thesis at hand seeks to contribute to the study of indigenous survival strategies by employing an innovative approach. This approach draws on psycho-social theories (notably Collective Angst Theory) in order to better understand the responses of the indigenous Yawanawá group to realistic and symbolic challenges affecting biological and cultural group vitality.Show less
This thesis critically evaluates Google Arts & Culture 'Korean Heritage' and the platform's claims of 'democratizing' heritage and 'blurring the lines between experts and users'. Within...Show moreThis thesis critically evaluates Google Arts & Culture 'Korean Heritage' and the platform's claims of 'democratizing' heritage and 'blurring the lines between experts and users'. Within scholarship, Digital Heritage has often been characterized as a force of democratization as well as a possible threat to traditional authority by enabling more active engagement. However, while GA&C's presentation of content capitalizes on digital technologies' strengths, it remains dialogically closed. As a result, projects such as 'Korean Heritage' actually reinforce the authority of state-sponsored heritage institutions and help reproduce a state-authorized view of heritage. Additionally, through collaboration with heritage institutions, Google is able to strengthen its business image as benevolent tech-giant, while simultaneously collecting data on user activity on the platform.Show less
This thesis explores how the recurring theme of identity in director Hosoda Mamoru’s animated films can be analyzed through the theory of magical realism. Magical realism, in short, can be defined...Show moreThis thesis explores how the recurring theme of identity in director Hosoda Mamoru’s animated films can be analyzed through the theory of magical realism. Magical realism, in short, can be defined as a style of fiction that primarily depicts a realistic world view, but organically introduces elements of magic and the supernatural into this world that blur the lines between the ordinary and the extraordinary. These extraordinary elements are accepted as being natural to the otherwise realistic setting and its characters. The innately human issues and themes addressed in Hosoda’s films makes for incredibly engaging stories. However, Hosoda seems to always utilize elements of magic or otherworldliness that are lingering in the background. It is argued that these elements are being employed to urge his young characters to see the world from a new perspective, helping them grow into themselves and further define their identity. In order to analyze magical realist elements in Hosoda’s work, it is first argued that magical realism is applicable to film and anime. After discussing the literary origins of the magical realism, a set of attributes by which magical realism can be defined is assembled on accord of various scholarly interpretations of the term. Apart from globally acknowledged definitions of the term, it is also explored how the notion of identity manifests itself in specifically Japanese magical realist literature, since Japanese animation is being discussed. Having done this, a model of magical realist attributes applicable to film and anime is formed, through which finally, two films of Hosoda Mamoru’s are analyzed.Show less
Recently, scholarly debate on peacebuilding and reconciliation is making a “local-turn”, pointing towards local actors, such as civil society organizations, to achieve inclusive and locally...Show moreRecently, scholarly debate on peacebuilding and reconciliation is making a “local-turn”, pointing towards local actors, such as civil society organizations, to achieve inclusive and locally grounded peace and reconciliation. Despite this interest, little studies have examined if, and how, these local actors make a contribution to these goals. Such a case is Lebanon, characterized by protracted, sectarian conflict, but where a group of CSOs is active within this contentious nexus between conflict and peace. How does the work of these CSOs fit in the paradigm of reconciliation? Can they contribute to reconciliation in Lebanon? Following these questions, this research suggests that these CSOs can be understood through the framework of political reconciliation of Schaap (2005). Furthermore, they exhibit various functions to a reconciliation process: They advocate new narratives on identity, conflict and history, and the rights of victims. It arises that participatory and grassroot approaches are most conducive to successes of the CSOs. At the same time, the strategy and goals of the CSOs are negotiated by constraining factors. In what I call a ‘negotiated reconciliation process’ sectarian and corrupt structures on the one hand, and resource-based problems and international donor wishes on the other, mitigate the level of success of the CSOs.Show less
