With a fast changing climate, it is important that the biggest economies are involved in altering climate change. China is the second largest economy and the biggest emitter of green house gasses,...Show moreWith a fast changing climate, it is important that the biggest economies are involved in altering climate change. China is the second largest economy and the biggest emitter of green house gasses, and therefor of utter importance in the fight against climate change. But the question is, is China indeed taking its responsibility?Show less
East Asia is seen simultaneously as one of the most dynamic centres of world economics and politics and one of the tensest regions on the globe, housing two of the biggest powers and rivals (Newby...Show moreEast Asia is seen simultaneously as one of the most dynamic centres of world economics and politics and one of the tensest regions on the globe, housing two of the biggest powers and rivals (Newby 1). The East Asian theatre is where one of the most complex inter-state relationships plays out, the two actors are China and Japan. The aim of this thesis will be to understand what effect Japanese remilitarisation and Chinese expansionism are having on Sino-Japanese security relations. By combining the theory of neoclassical realism and the security dilemma theory, this thesis aims to show that Japanese remilitarisation and Chinese military expansionism are having a negative effect on security relations as they generate security dilemma dynamics, that are enhanced by domestic variables such as nationalism and parochial interests of the leadership.Show less
The aim of this thesis is to examine whether China has the structural power to redefine global economic governance through the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). To understand the...Show moreThe aim of this thesis is to examine whether China has the structural power to redefine global economic governance through the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). To understand the significance of this initiative, the topic of the AIIB will be analysed through the lens of international socialisation theory. This thesis finds that even though, China has managed to shape the AIIB in accordance with its own interests and preferences, still, in many aspects, the bank adheres to Western norms and values. In addition to this, the reforms accelerated by the establishment of the AIIB are rather limited. Clearly China is experiencing a structural power deficit, yet the establishment of the AIIB may positively influence China’s national image abroad and thus, lay a foundation for China’s future grand aspirations.Show less
Space activity started as a national ambition during the Cold War and has progressively evolved into an international framework in which states can cooperate. Yet, this cooperation contained flaws...Show moreSpace activity started as a national ambition during the Cold War and has progressively evolved into an international framework in which states can cooperate. Yet, this cooperation contained flaws from earlier on and the current framework dominated by the United States of America (USA) through NASA, bars any attempt of cooperation with China and their national space agency; CNSA. This thesis intends to look at the context in which cooperation emerged in the context of space activity and understands the reasons why this cooperation has been failing. Accounting for these elements, a new cooperative framework will be drafted to overcome the shortcomings mentioned and promote the benefits a USA- China cooperation could bring to the sector of space activity internationally.Show less
Departing from materialist understanding of the South China Sea conflict, this paper foregrounds the role of ideas in producing the rivalry between China and the Philippines. Guided by...Show moreDeparting from materialist understanding of the South China Sea conflict, this paper foregrounds the role of ideas in producing the rivalry between China and the Philippines. Guided by constructivist theory of international relations fused with the rivalry approach to conflict, this undertaking has shown how an intersubjective and institutionalised conception of space generated the rivalry. Three ideas are identified as consequential: new cartographic ideas which promoted linearly demarcated boundaries, sovereignty as the power to exclude non-citizens, and the territorialisation of the sea.Show less
This thesis researched how four large newspapers: People’s Daily（人民日报）and Southern Metropolis Daily （南方都市报）both from China, and Apple Daily （苹果日报）and Ta Kung Pao (大公报), based in Hong Kong, reported...Show moreThis thesis researched how four large newspapers: People’s Daily（人民日报）and Southern Metropolis Daily （南方都市报）both from China, and Apple Daily （苹果日报）and Ta Kung Pao (大公报), based in Hong Kong, reported on the massive demonstrations of mid-September 2014, following the decision of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on August 31st to hold elections for the Chief Executive of Hong Kong in 2017.Show less
Global climate change has emerged as one of the world’s most serious problems, one requiring international cooperation. China, as a large country and big emitter, is vital to such cooperation. It...Show moreGlobal climate change has emerged as one of the world’s most serious problems, one requiring international cooperation. China, as a large country and big emitter, is vital to such cooperation. It is therefore important to understand China’s position regarding climate change and international cooperation. This thesis examined China attitudes and how these are changing by conducting discourse analysis of Xinhua articles published during the 2009 and 2015 United Nations climate conferences. It found China’s attitudes shifted significantly between these two conferences and it became much more willing to cooperate.Show less
Dit onderzoek gaat in op de ontwikkeling van de Chinese economie en het onderliggende kapitalistische systeem in de periode 1960-2010. Aan de hand van een begrippenkader dat afkomstig is van de...Show moreDit onderzoek gaat in op de ontwikkeling van de Chinese economie en het onderliggende kapitalistische systeem in de periode 1960-2010. Aan de hand van een begrippenkader dat afkomstig is van de Varieties of Capitalism-theorie, wordt er gekeken hoe het Chinese kapitalistische systeem/model getypeerd kan worden binnen het kader van het comparatief kapitalisme debat. Teneinde dit centrale vraagstuk te beantwoorden, worden er vier institutionele domeinen onderzocht die, door hun rol in de organisatie en distributie van de productiefactoren binnen een economie, de kern vormen van een kapitalistisch systeem. Deze domeinen zijn: 1) de staat; 2) het financiële systeem; 3) bedrijfsbestuur en onderlinge bedrijfsrelaties en; 4) het arbeidsmarktregime. Uit de analyse van deze domeinen vloeit tevens het vaststellen van vormen van institutionele complementariteit en institutionele comparatieve voordelen voort. Daarnaast wordt er in dit onderzoek uitgebreid aandacht besteed aan de sociaaleconomische ontwikkeling van China, het Chinese proces van handelsliberalisering en de invloed van cultuur op institutionele ontwikkeling. De belangrijkste bevinding van dit onderzoek is dat China zich in de periode 1960-2010 heeft ontwikkeld tot een State-Coordinated Market Economy (SCME). In deze kapitalistische variant is 'non-market' coördinatie in handen van een actieve, sturende en autoritaire staat en wordt politieke dominantie gekoppeld aan gecoördineerde economische ontwikkeling. De specifieke rol van de staat binnen de Chinese economie maakt tevens dat het benoemen van vormen van institutionele complementariteit alleen, niet voldoende is om de werking van het Chinese kapitalisme te duiden. Daarom zijn in dit onderzoek de concepten van (opzettelijke) economische institutionele tegenstrijdigheid en politieke institutionele complementariteit geïntroduceerd.Show less
Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb (1876-1956) was een vooraanstaand Duits beroepsmilitair in het Duitse Keizerrijk, de Weimarrepubliek en Nazi-Duitsland. Aan het einde van een lange carrière werd hij in 1940...Show moreWilhelm Ritter von Leeb (1876-1956) was een vooraanstaand Duits beroepsmilitair in het Duitse Keizerrijk, de Weimarrepubliek en Nazi-Duitsland. Aan het einde van een lange carrière werd hij in 1940 door Hitler benoemd in de hoogste militaire rang, die van generaal veldmaarschalk. Aan het begin van zijn carrière nam hij deel aan het Oost-Aziatische Expeditiekorps dat in 1900 naar China werd gestuurd om daar de Bokseropstand neer te slaan. Tijdens die expeditie hield hij een dagboek bij en liet een fotoalbum na. Dit dagboek en fotoalbum staan centraal in deze scriptie. De scriptie richt zich op twee onderwerpen: ten eerste de motieven van von Leeb om deel te nemen aan het Oost-Aziatische Expeditiekorps en ten tweede zijn beeld van China en de Chinezen. De persoonlijke motieven en opvattingen van von Leeb worden afgezet tegen de geopolitieke achtergrond van het conflict, de heersende denkbeelden over China en de Chinezen in Duitsland rond 1900 en vergelijkbare egodocumenten van andere Duitse soldaten. Op die manier wordt duidelijk in hoeverre Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb past binnen de gangbare ideeën van zijn tijd.Show less
This thesis examines soft power and self-image building in China and contrasts this with the current Western hegemonic ideology in order to establish to what extent China can operate within the...Show moreThis thesis examines soft power and self-image building in China and contrasts this with the current Western hegemonic ideology in order to establish to what extent China can operate within the world order. Furthermore, this thesis analyses several films in order to indicate that the image surrounding China is heavily influenced by external powers. The findings of the thesis suggest that within the current Western hegemonic ideology China's influence is limited and partly affected by certain discourses.Show less
This thesis examines the recent Chinese actions in the South China Sea disputes. Is China carrying out a neorealist approach regarding its interests in the South China Sea while ignoring...Show moreThis thesis examines the recent Chinese actions in the South China Sea disputes. Is China carrying out a neorealist approach regarding its interests in the South China Sea while ignoring international laws and norms? Examining the current international laws, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, shows that China has little interest in observing them. If power or security is what the PRC is interested in, the actions taken should be able to demonstrate that, which is what this paper seeks to explain through the lens of neorealism. Natural resources are a negligible factor in the current actions of China, they are mostly focused on constructing defences in what is known as the doctrine of Island Chains and pushing any possible future war further away from the Chinese mainland. Chinese actions in the South China Sea are driven by the security dilemma in which the US features as the primary antagonist. Recognizing the neorealist approach of China's interests is key to understanding why China won't stop its actions regardless of US pressure.Show less
Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
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This thesis explores the Chinese Counter-Terrorism Law, enacted on the 1st of January 2016. It looks at the impacts of this law on Chinese ethnic minorities, with the focus on Tibetans and Uyghurs....Show moreThis thesis explores the Chinese Counter-Terrorism Law, enacted on the 1st of January 2016. It looks at the impacts of this law on Chinese ethnic minorities, with the focus on Tibetans and Uyghurs. The thesis compares Chinese counter-terrorism strategies with those of the United States and the United Kingdom, to conclude that the global war on terror has had negative impacts on the protection of human rights. More and more states are choosing national security over the protection of human rights, leading to more human rights violations globally. China is no exception to this, and Tibetans and Uyghurs suffer many consequences because of the new Chinese Counter-Terrorism Law. These consequences are explained in this thesis.Show less
Research master thesis | Literary Studies (research) (MA)
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It is simply undeniable that Jean-Jacques Rousseau played his vital part inspiring the world to modernisation, including China. There is also no gainsaying the fact that he had countless ...Show moreIt is simply undeniable that Jean-Jacques Rousseau played his vital part inspiring the world to modernisation, including China. There is also no gainsaying the fact that he had countless ‘apprentices’ in late Qing China, and apparently many Chinese intellectual elites during that period thought so as well. In the field of literature, Émile, ou de l'éducation inspired Chinese intellectual circle, especially realms of literature and publication, and stirred up a trend of ‘novel of education’. In addition, Rousseau’s writings and his image frequently appeared in the new-styled prints in late Qing China. Yet if we make a general survey of Chinese history evolving towards the point of modernisation and afterwards, the course of history in China was essentially advancing forward in its own way. All in all, I will claim that the interpretation, misinterpretation and internalisation of Rousseau’s thoughts in China was a highly complex progress. The new community of modern intellectuals in late Qing China took and adapted what they needed from Rousseau without pursuing Rousseau’s original intention, and such tendency and the transformation of the men of knowledge themselves were underlain by both the macro framework of Chinese society and the internal development within Chinese society that had started several centuries before the Western impact.Show less
In 2004, China’s foreign policy appeared to enter a relatively expansive phase. The Chinese President, Hu Jintao, began to confidently make proclamations for a new world order, China's bilateral...Show moreIn 2004, China’s foreign policy appeared to enter a relatively expansive phase. The Chinese President, Hu Jintao, began to confidently make proclamations for a new world order, China's bilateral aid activities increased exponentially and China began to assert itself in international organisations. The change in China’s foreign policy would appear intuitively consistent with the activities of any country that has achieved the economic growth that China has. However, upon closer examination, China’s foreign policy not only displays consistencies with principles that have been prevalent in Chinese society since ancient times, but also appear to de-legitimise the hegemonic position of the United States in a number of cases. In essence, it would appear as if China has made the decision to bring about a transformation in international norms to better suit its identity, particularly in light of the diminishing influence of the US.Show less
The 2016 Hangzhou G20 Summit was an opportunity for China to present itself on the global stage. In this thesis we research how the concept of soft power plays a role in Chinese domestic and...Show moreThe 2016 Hangzhou G20 Summit was an opportunity for China to present itself on the global stage. In this thesis we research how the concept of soft power plays a role in Chinese domestic and foreign policy, and how this is reflected in the approach to the G20.Show less
The Mongols are known primarily for their ruthlessness and sheer militairy force; this thesis will look at the role other factors have played in the Mongol conquest of China in order to explain the...Show moreThe Mongols are known primarily for their ruthlessness and sheer militairy force; this thesis will look at the role other factors have played in the Mongol conquest of China in order to explain the adaptation process of the early Mongol Empire.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
The arrival of Donald Trump on the global political stage, has significantly changed how other countries regard the US. One country where this is especially true is China. This thesis therefore...Show moreThe arrival of Donald Trump on the global political stage, has significantly changed how other countries regard the US. One country where this is especially true is China. This thesis therefore analyzed three different Chinese newspapers on their discourse regarding the US in the period between the latter part of the 2016 US elections and the first few months of Trump’s presidency. Special focus is paid to how the discourse of the newspapers relates to China. Generally, the newspapers treated the presidency of Trump, as well as his election, as symptoms of a greater US decline. Apart from US decline, there was also special emphasis in the newspapers on China’s importance as a great power. Overall, there was a big difference in reporting between the two state-owned newspapers and the one private-owned newspaper. These difference were mostly related to the focus of the articles and a relatively large shift in tone of the articles. The official newspapers changed their reporting on the US drastically in later reporting, as well as China’s relationship with the US. These changes betray a lack of coherent strategy in regards to China’s view of itself as a great power and its relationship with the US.Show less
