This thesis focusses on the question: How has the Chinese propaganda department propagated stories in and outside of China through its new-type mainstream media since the 18th CCP Congress in 2012?...Show moreThis thesis focusses on the question: How has the Chinese propaganda department propagated stories in and outside of China through its new-type mainstream media since the 18th CCP Congress in 2012? The CPD endeavours to send a coherent message to different audiences in order to enhance China’s international image by applying a new media-management strategy that aims at telling better stories to the world about China. This thesis endeavours to identify the rationales of the CPD through an analysis of its structure and the aims of the new media-management strategy. As a case study, eight video clips will be analysed, interpreted and discussed alongside the academic research in order to draw conclusions. On the basis of the video clip analyses, the conclusion is that the CPD tells four different narratives at this moment: the Chinese Dream and rejuvenation discourse; the Belt and Road Initiative; China’s desire to pursue diversity and inclusivity for all in the international system; and using Xi Jinping as a popular idol. Moreover, this thesis shows that the clips fit in the longer tradition of Chinese political communication in the form of visual tifa.Show less
The aim of this thesis is to investigate cooperation between China and Europe and to identify changes in partnerships with the advancement of China’s space program. In the first part, a general...Show moreThe aim of this thesis is to investigate cooperation between China and Europe and to identify changes in partnerships with the advancement of China’s space program. In the first part, a general overview of space exploration and the history of China’s space program is presented. China’s achievements and innovations in space had come comparatively late, but nowadays has China a become a world-class player in this field. Then thesis then analyses the structure of different space programs and the political environment that affects the development of partnerships. This continues with the economic benefits for both parties, including cost sharing, innovation and technology, access to resources, job employment and prestige. In conclusion, the thesis argues that cooperation between Europe and China in the field of space technology development has not been very intense from the start of national space programs in the early 1950s, but after the end of the cold war relations between China and in particular the West of Europe gradually became better. This thesis hopes to offer a valuable insight into changing roles in the field of aerospace by analysing China’s rapidly expanding space program.Show less
Though Western thought gained popularity and legitimacy in legal education after economic reforms were initiated, the role of defence lawyers remains ambiguous. The Constitution of the People's...Show moreThough Western thought gained popularity and legitimacy in legal education after economic reforms were initiated, the role of defence lawyers remains ambiguous. The Constitution of the People's Republic of China does grant the accused the right of defence (see Appendix 4.1 Article 125). However, with a formal legal tradition, in which criminal prosecution, investigation, and trial are handled respectively through the three segments of the so called 'Iron Triangle' (police, procuracy, and judges), defence lawyers are admitted little room to operate as representatives of their client, but rather pose a minor obstacle to the prosecution. The legal mind-set is crime oppressive with higher value on crime control efficiency than accuracy of legal conduct within the court, as well as in the pre-trial investigatory phase. Therewith, traditionally the 'Iron Triangle' was firmly aimed against crime, or rather the accused himself. However, the case of the defence lawyer Li Zhuang in 2009/10 raises the question of an alternative aim of the 'Iron Triangle'. Instead of focusing on the prosecution of the accused (Gong Gangmo), the case took a turn against the defence lawyer, incriminating Li Zhuang by actually applying testimony of Gong, the accused. The paper argues that, as shown on the case of Li Zhuang, the 'Iron Triangle' of China's legal conduct is not simply aimed at the prosecution and conviction of the accused and therewith the impediment of crime, but against the criminal defence as a concept of law. This will be shown on examining the trial of Li Zhuang on the following four factors: formal legal rule that directly counters criminal defence, and therewith shows criminal defence oppression through the legislature itself; intrinsic institutional deterrents on criminal defence in the judiciary; ideological factors in China's legal tradition, which impede criminal defence indirectly and simultaneously renders legitimacy to the actions against criminal defence by legislature and judiciary; and finally political motifs.Show less
De scriptie geeft een overzicht van een drietal aspecten van de toegenomen Chinese welvaart in het tijdperk van de hervormingen en moderniseringen met betrekking tot voedsel. Aan de orde komen het...Show moreDe scriptie geeft een overzicht van een drietal aspecten van de toegenomen Chinese welvaart in het tijdperk van de hervormingen en moderniseringen met betrekking tot voedsel. Aan de orde komen het toenemende lichaamsgewicht (obesitas), de voortdurende problemen met betrekking tot de voedselveiligheid en, in samenhang daarmee, het speuren naar duurzame(re) oplossingen in de vorm van bijvoorbeeld biologische landbouw.Show less
In the last few decades the internet has become an indispensable part of people’s lives. Especially the younger generations have a broad knowledge of how digital devices work and the advantages and...Show moreIn the last few decades the internet has become an indispensable part of people’s lives. Especially the younger generations have a broad knowledge of how digital devices work and the advantages and conveniences of using the internet. According to Golub and Lingley, the Chinese government has always viewed the internet with ambivalence, because on the one hand it is a sign of modernity, but on the other hand it provides access to a different world view, different opinions, and additional information, which might not conform to the government’s view (2008). However, the number of internet users in mainland China has increased from 620.000 in 1998 to 649 million people at the end of 2014, it is the world’s fastest–growing online population (Stewart 2010; CNNIC 2015). About 55% of those users are below 30 years old. In the same year, China had a total of 366 million online gamers and the largest game population in the world (CNNIC 2015). Online gaming has become a popular way for children, adolescents and adults alike to spend their free or not so free hours. However, with the gaining popularity of online and offline gaming, it often replaces other more social activities, like playing sports or real-life socializing. Gaming addiction also has become a very serious issue, which has a profound impact on society. Since 2002, there have been many cases of aggression and bizarre behavior caused by gaming addiction. Golub and Lingley (2008) mention a few in their article, such as an obese man dying after a marathon gaming session, and a 13-year old jumping of a building after playing Warcraft hoping to “join the heroes of the game” (62; Xinhua News Agency 2006). Although, in a lot of countries, there is still an ongoing debate about whether gaming addiction is an addiction at all, China was one of the first to label problematic online gaming as a clinical disorder and is together with South Korea, the Netherlands, Canada and the United States, one of the few countries that has treatment centers for internet addiction, the first being opened in 2004 (CCTV International 2009). In my thesis I will discuss different stakeholders and how they look at the phenomenon of online game addiction among Chinese youth. I will use Foucault’s theory on power relations as a supporting framework for my research (Foucault 1981). I define Chinese youth as the age group between 12 and 30, but with a focus on high school and higher education students. I define online gaming as using an internet connection while gaming, often on a computer, instead of offline gaming on a console, and focus mainly on Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMO) as they are believed to be the most addictive online games and they are the most widespread in China.Show less
Voedselveiligheidsproblemen doen zich overal ter wereld voor, maar in China lijkt de situatie van voedselveiligheid af te wijken van elders ter wereld. Door de ontwikkeling van de Chinese economie...Show moreVoedselveiligheidsproblemen doen zich overal ter wereld voor, maar in China lijkt de situatie van voedselveiligheid af te wijken van elders ter wereld. Door de ontwikkeling van de Chinese economie van de afgelopen decennia, is het probleemgebied van voedselvoorziening naar voedselveiligheid verschoven. In deze scriptie gaat de aandacht uit naar de vraag of China daadwerkelijk achterloopt op het gebied van voedselveiligheid, en waarom China faalt in het opzetten van voedselveiligheidssystemen die de consument kwaliteit en veiligheid kunnen garanderen.Show less
Internationale handel bestaat al millennia en is voor veel landen een belangrijk deel van hun economie. Met organisaties als de WTO (World Trade Organization) is internationale handel makkelijker...Show moreInternationale handel bestaat al millennia en is voor veel landen een belangrijk deel van hun economie. Met organisaties als de WTO (World Trade Organization) is internationale handel makkelijker en toegankelijker geworden en met de opkomst van het internet is de wereld kleiner geworden dan ooit te voren. Globalisatie speelt hier dan ook een grote rol in. Maar globalisatie heeft niet direct het gevolg dat wij multi cultureler zijn geworden. Integendeel: de impact van globalisatie is dat zij de nationale, etnische en gemeenschappelijke identiteit versterkt (Tsai, Yoo & Lee 2013, 98). Hoewel er dus allerlei producten uit verschillende landen haast overal te koop zijn, bestaan er mensen die liever geen buitenlandse producten kopen maar er sterk de voorkeur aan geven eigengemaakte producten te consumeren. Dit wordt ook wel consumentennationalisme of consumentenetnocentrisme genoemd. Het verschil tussen deze twee is dat consumentennationalisme niet alleen buitenlandse producten afwijst, maar ook de intentie kan hebben tot het oproepen van vijandelijkheid (boycot). Dit fenomeen komt niet in één enkel land voor maar in totaal verschillende landen als de Verenigde Staten, Frankrijk en China. De aanleiding tot consumentennationalisme zit in verschillende factoren. Je kunt denken aan het karakter van de buitenlandse relaties van een land, de marketing en strategieën van bedrijven en bijvoorbeeld de sterke concurrentie op de wereldmarkt (Ibid). Daarnaast valt ook te denken aan de culturele identiteit van de bevolking. Wat dit precies inhoudt, wil ik in deze scriptie voor wat betreft China uitleggen.Show less
Hoe kun je als Westers bedrijf succes hebben op de Chinese consumentenmarkt? Aan de hand van vier begrippen - patriottisme, protectionisme, Shanzhai en guanxi - wordt geanalyseerd hoe deze...Show moreHoe kun je als Westers bedrijf succes hebben op de Chinese consumentenmarkt? Aan de hand van vier begrippen - patriottisme, protectionisme, Shanzhai en guanxi - wordt geanalyseerd hoe deze karakteristieken invloed hebben op Westerse bedrijven die in China opereren, met Apple als succesvoorbeeld. Conclusie: de Westerse onderneming dient voorzichtig om te gaan met Chinees patriottisme. Kleine misstappen kunnen groots uitpakken; soms ligt de oorzaak van anti-Westers sentiment buiten de macht van de onderneming. Ondanks patriottisme is er een groep Chinese consumenten die een hang heeft naar Westerse producten, zeker de wereldmerken die door hen als ‘sociaal statusverhogend’ beschouwd worden. Westerse bedrijven dienen rekening te houden met protectionistische regels en voorschriften. Soms kan hiermee door aanpassing van strategie of met behulp van guanxi relatief makkelijk omgegaan worden. Soms vormen de protectionistische maatregelen oneerlijke concurrentie die niet te omzeilen is. Shanzhai-bedrijfjes vormen concurrentie vanwege hun ‘thuisvoordeel’: bekendheid met consument, geografische factoren en Chinese cultuur. Daarnaast kunnen zij door schending van intellectueel eigendom en kopieergedrag innovatieve en namaakproducten goedkoop aanbieden. Het Westerse product moet dus zo uniek zijn dat de Chinese consument geen namaak wil; ook verkooptechniek is in dit verband belangrijk. Het maken en onderhouden van guanxi met zakelijke contacten en overheidsfunctionarissen kan enorme voordelen hebben om zaken voor elkaar te krijgen. Dit vraagt om kennis van de Chinese cultuur en gebruiken.Show less
