On the 24th of February 2022, Russia undertook the largest land invasion into a sovereign state since World War II. The unprecedented move was met with a swift deployment of economic tools to deter...Show moreOn the 24th of February 2022, Russia undertook the largest land invasion into a sovereign state since World War II. The unprecedented move was met with a swift deployment of economic tools to deter the invasion and increase Russia’s costs of sustaining the military effort in the long term. As a result of this economic warfare between Russia and the Global North, sovereign assets of more than 300 Billion US Dollars belonging to the Russian Central Bank (RCB) have been frozen. This constituted the largest seizure of sovereign assets since World War II. As of June 2024, calls in the United States and the European Union to use the RCB assets for Ukraine’s military and humanitarian efforts have only been amplifying. These voices neglect international legal perspectives- specifically from the Global South- which highlight the discourses on sovereign immunity and countermeasures. These voices probe the following questions: What do the RCB sanctions mean for the existing sovereign immunity regime? What is the validity of the countermeasures doctrine with regards to the RCB? And most importantly, what do such measures mean for Western financial hegemony? This thesis encapsulates all these legal discourses by asking the question: What is the legality of the Global North states’ sanctions against the Russian Central Bank?Show less
Since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, many scholars have acknowledged its transformative effect on international relations. Notably, Southeast Asian states have been found...Show moreSince the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, many scholars have acknowledged its transformative effect on international relations. Notably, Southeast Asian states have been found to pursue a foreign policy strategy of strategic hedging between China as a rising power, and the United States (US) as their long-time ally. However, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region also plays a key role in the execution of this New Silk Road. Despite this, there is a gap in the literature regarding how these states may respond to the rise of China through this new initiative. Egypt, which holds a significant position in the transportation routes due to its dominance of the Suez Canal, is a key player in this initiative, but remains overlooked in discussion about the BRI’s role in the new world order. Therefore, this thesis aims to investigate to what extent Egypt is using the BRI and increased Chinese influence to hedge against the US. Drawing on the emerging theory of strategic hedging, this study assesses the theory’s applicability to the case study of Egypt as a secondary power in the MENA region. Through qualitative analysis of key economic and military factors, as well as expert interviews, this analysis provides two main findings. Firstly, Egypt is pursuing a hedging strategy towards the US through increased economic engagement with China. Secondly, this strategy is characterized by economic hedging, a less competitive form of hedging that allows Egypt to maintain relatively more positive relations with the US. Finally, this thesis suggests that further research should focus on detailed data regarding Egyptian domestic factors, and the applicability of hedging to other BRI participants in the MENA region, to provide a more comprehensive exploration of strategic hedging in International Relations (IR) theory.Show less
The consistent implementation of debt trap diplomacy by China has become an important instrument in the superpower’s quest for further worldwide dominance and power. This paper examines how the...Show moreThe consistent implementation of debt trap diplomacy by China has become an important instrument in the superpower’s quest for further worldwide dominance and power. This paper examines how the nation’s debt trap diplomacy has helped it consolidate its position within the global order by offering insights gathered from a case study of the small east African country of Djibouti. Due to its helpful marine connections and strategic location at the intersection of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Djibouti has been a focal point in the field of geopolitics. Building ports, railroads, and military facilities are only a few examples of the infrastructure development projects that have dominated China's relationship with the nation. China's debt trap diplomacy in the region is based on the substantial loans that its government and state-owned banks have provided to fund these projects. The involvement in Djibouti is an example of China’s larger gameplan meant to increase its power and influence in the international system. The eastern power’s use of its economic might to fund infrastructure projects and give easy loans effectively confines small countries like Djibouti within its area of influence. As a result, China's position as a major actor in world events is strengthened, further eroding the conventional power structures set up by Western countries.Show less
This thesis investigated how Chinese language and culture education as supported by the Confucius Institutes is perceived by secondairy education students in the Netherlands and assesses whether...Show moreThis thesis investigated how Chinese language and culture education as supported by the Confucius Institutes is perceived by secondairy education students in the Netherlands and assesses whether these students experience Chinese influence on their education by conducting interviews. The analysis from the interviews concludes that students have a generally positive experience with learning Chinese, that there is a lot of attention paid to culture education, and that students do not appear to experience any Chinese influence on their education.Show less
Today, mainland China makes up a large part of the videogame industry, with successful titles not only catering the Chinese gaming audience, the largest in the world, but also gaining international...Show moreToday, mainland China makes up a large part of the videogame industry, with successful titles not only catering the Chinese gaming audience, the largest in the world, but also gaining international popularity (Yong and Downing 2008, 515–29). However, former research has shown that inequal gender dynamics in the videogame industry lead to a predominantly male environment, that portrays women in sexist stereotypes (Vysotsky and Allaway 2018, 101). Chinese videogames are no exception to this; in a South China Morning Post (SCMP) interview with a female game concept artist based in Chengdu, there was a strong belief there is “a tacit agreement that female characters in games are supposed to be ‘pretty’ and ‘sexy’ (Shen 2020).” For instance, when designing a new character, the instructions read: “It needs to give people an urge to masturbate (Shen 2020).” This research aims to find the link between gender representations in videogames and traditional Chinese cultural values, comparing and analysing mainland Chinese, Taiwanese, and Chinese diaspora games, which are Chinese games made in a different environment than the homeland. The choice for analysing both mainland Chinese, Taiwanese and diaspora games, based on the respective differences between both societies which makes a comparison possible, requires an explanation that has historical roots.Show less
This thesis explores the the impact of U.S. foreign policy on Chinese international status, focusing on two case studies: The Paris Climate Agreement and the 2020 Trade War. The research...Show moreThis thesis explores the the impact of U.S. foreign policy on Chinese international status, focusing on two case studies: The Paris Climate Agreement and the 2020 Trade War. The research incorporates both realism and status frameworks to analyze the complex Sino-American relationship, arguing that a purely realist perspective is insufficient for understanding the current dynamics. The findings suggest that U.S. foreign policy has a significant impact on Chinese status, with cooperative policy enhancing it and competitive policy diminishing it. This study contributes to international relations research by proposing an integrated approach of realism and status to evaluate major power relations, particularly between the United States and China.Show less
This thesis examines China’s cultural (foreign) policies. Taking a sample of three different case studies, this thesis aims to find an answer to the question of how China is using cultural heritage...Show moreThis thesis examines China’s cultural (foreign) policies. Taking a sample of three different case studies, this thesis aims to find an answer to the question of how China is using cultural heritage as a means to becoming a modern imperial power. A possible reason for the Chinese government to do this is that the current global power dynamic is shifting eastwards, away from the U.S., and towards China. Over the three case studies, which all fall into a different type of imperialism, it becomes clear that the cultural heritage policies China employs are not just soft power, but indeed are cultural imperialism.Show less
This thesis explores the neomercantilist dynamics in the US-China chip war, a critical geoeconomic rivalry of the modern era where superpowers vie for dominance in semiconductor technology. By...Show moreThis thesis explores the neomercantilist dynamics in the US-China chip war, a critical geoeconomic rivalry of the modern era where superpowers vie for dominance in semiconductor technology. By analyzing the strategies and policies of both the United States and China, this study investigates the alignment of their actions with neomercantilist theory and assesses the implications for global economic and geopolitical dynamics. The research reveals that both nations employ neomercantilist strategies such as trade protectionism, industrial policy, strategic resource control, and technological nationalism to secure their economic and national security interests. The findings highlight the resurgence of protectionist policies reminiscent of the 19th century, challenging the post-Cold War principles of free trade and globalization. The thesis concludes by discussing the broader implications for the global semiconductor industry, international trade relations, and geopolitical stability, emphasizing the need for collaborative international frameworks to manage the intersection of trade, technology, and security.Show less
To answer the question posed by the title of this thesis, which is "In what ways is China's rising influence in the Lebanese economy and society altering the identity formation of the militant...Show moreTo answer the question posed by the title of this thesis, which is "In what ways is China's rising influence in the Lebanese economy and society altering the identity formation of the militant group Hezbollah?," this thesis employs a social-constructivist method. Accordingly, it concentrates on the overlap and interaction between domestic society and foreign policy, which is defined in the overall aims of this seminar. In recent years, China has established commercial links with a number of the nations in the region, and the One Belt, One Road program is intended to foster further collaboration in the future(Gresh, 2016). OBOR is focused on securing a stable energy supply for China's rapid economic development and comprises a wide range of investment projects that might be advantageous to the region (Horesh, 2016). China participates in the politics of neighboring countries on a very seldom basis and has no intention of unseating the United States. Despite the fact that the emergence of an increasing Chinese influence is easily recognised, the implications of this influence on identity and culture are rarely mentioned in constructivist literature on the Middle East and Lebanon. That is because the body of constructivist analytic literature is still relatively limited when compared to the neoliberal approach, which is the predominant school of thought in the field of international relations. It was discovered that this is the case in each and every one of the domains that were examined, including constructivism and IR theory, constructivism in the Middle East, and China and the Middle East. Constructivist research in the subject of International Relations theories has garnered the attention of an ever-expanding corpus of published work since the 1990s. This thesis will build on the work accomplished by Raymond Hinnebusch, David Campbell, and Alexander Wendt adopting constructivism as perspective, and therefore will primarily involve Joseph Alagha and Pol Bassedas in the research on the identity formation of Hezbollah. There is still a great deal of ambiguity regarding the connection between international politics and the role that the influence of China plays in the process of identity creation inside Hezbollah. With the use of Hezbollah as a case study, the purpose of this study will be to make a contribution to the existing body of knowledge in an effort to address a knowledge gap relating to expanding Chinese participation and identity creation in the Middle East.Show less
Self-reliance has been an aspirational long-term goal for China due to the country's easy access to foreign technology and knowledge, but its national semiconductor development over the last decade...Show moreSelf-reliance has been an aspirational long-term goal for China due to the country's easy access to foreign technology and knowledge, but its national semiconductor development over the last decade has been directly challenged by a U.S.-led multilateral export control regime. Consequently, the situation calls for an examination of China's path choices concerning these tensions in the semiconductor industry. So far, contributions by International Relations (IR) theories lack consideration of China's fluctuating strategic priorities in response to global shifts. This thesis therefore uses the analytical concepts of historical institutionalism to explore China’s economic policy development in the semiconductor industry from 2014 to 2024 and structures the research around the critical juncture of the U.S.-led sanction regime towards China that commenced on October 7, 2022. To provide a foundation of knowledge on China’s current economic strategies in the microchip tech war, a scoping review was conducted to systematically map recent studies (March 2023–March 2024) and trace the dynamic process of China’s strategic path choices, which may aid EU Member States and policy practitioners in framing China in their international agenda on semiconductors. The findings suggest that China 1) has demonstrated a deliberate commitment to caution in its foreign policy to maximize strategic advantages over technology, 2) aims to deter future U.S. action by reinforcing its techno-economic statecraft and domestic economic competitiveness, and 3) has increased efforts to enhance worldwide reliance on China through its comparative advantages and technological standards for critical technologies, including AI and 5G.Show less
This thesis investigates the impact of the People’s Republic of China's environmental colonialism on Tibetan indigenous practices and beliefs, focusing on land as a central cultural element. Since...Show moreThis thesis investigates the impact of the People’s Republic of China's environmental colonialism on Tibetan indigenous practices and beliefs, focusing on land as a central cultural element. Since 2000, the Chinese colonisers implemented policies aimed at the development and ecological protection of the Tibetan Plateau, leading to forced displacement, land dispossession, destruction of sacred sites, and cultural erasure of Tibetans. Through a comprehensive literature review, the paper examines the concept of cultural genocide under colonial occupation, Chinese environmental colonialism, and the significance of land in Tibetan culture and religion. Drawing on scholarly discourse, the study reveals how Chinese environmental policies constitute a form of cold genocide, gradually undermining Tibetan culture and identity through structural violence and assimilation tactics. By exploring two case studies, namely the Sanjiangyuan National Park, Amdo region, and anti-mining protests in Driru County, U-Tsang region, this thesis underscores the urgency of addressing cultural genocide in Tibet and advocating for the preservation of indigenous cultures worldwide.Show less
In recent years, countries all over the world have seen a great number of alleged cases of Chinese espionage and unwanted interference. The Netherlands is no exception. Instances of Chinese...Show moreIn recent years, countries all over the world have seen a great number of alleged cases of Chinese espionage and unwanted interference. The Netherlands is no exception. Instances of Chinese espionage and interference have become a ‘hot topic’ for Dutch media and politicians and seemingly caused much concern about national security, but to what extent did this reach the bilateral relations between the Netherlands and China? To provide more insight into this topic, this thesis aims to answer the question: how has Chinese espionage and unwanted interference impacted Sino-Dutch relations? It finds that while there have been increasing frictions between the Netherlands and China, also due to other issues, Sino-Dutch relations have not been significantly impacted by Chinese espionage and unwanted interference. This is due to several reasons, of which the most significant one is that the Netherlands has refrained from too much confrontation and for any actions that the Netherlands does take China blames the United States. Besides, other issues in the past, have also never had a significant impact on Sino-Dutch relations. However, while so far espionage and unwanted interference have not significantly impacted Sino-Dutch relations, it is uncertain whether the bilateral will remain as robust, especially because of geopolitical issues and a potentially more assertive Netherlands.Show less
This thesis seeks to comprehensively investigate a multitude of questions. First: how China's speculative urbanisation model tempted businesses to engage in high-risk high-reward expansion...Show moreThis thesis seeks to comprehensively investigate a multitude of questions. First: how China's speculative urbanisation model tempted businesses to engage in high-risk high-reward expansion strategies. Second: the impact of the Three Red Lines policy on the financial stability of real estate developers. By answering these questions, this thesis hopes to provide several insights, such as the lessons that can be learned from Evergrande's liquidation. These lessons should prove useful to mitigate risks in future speculative bubbles. To answer these questions, this paper will outline how characteristics such as government funding, urban migration, and even corrupt lending practices facilitated by political connections are common within the Chinese speculative urbanisation model and how they make it beneficial for businesses to procure borrowings. The paper will also study the Three Red Lines policy: how it is meant to address the issues of the speculative market as well as how it affects the highly leveraged businesses within the industry. After this, the paper will launch into a comprehensive case study on Evergrande, its development in China’s speculative urbanising market, its ability to meet the policy criteria, and its liquidation and the effects it had on the rest of the industry.Show less
The thesis provides a comparative analysis of the evolving regulatory frameworks in China's fintech sector, with a specific focus on Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending and crowdfunding. It explores how...Show moreThe thesis provides a comparative analysis of the evolving regulatory frameworks in China's fintech sector, with a specific focus on Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending and crowdfunding. It explores how these frameworks have adapted to technological innovations and assesses their impact on the development and stability of the fintech sector. The study reveals a transition from initial regulatory leniency to increased oversight in P2P lending and details the evolving regulatory environment of crowdfunding. By examining these sectors, the thesis sheds light on the interplay between regulation, technological innovation, and the broader economic and political context, contributing to both academic research and practical policy-making in the fintech field.Show less
In recent years, China has thoroughly changed its position on climate justice and climate governance. They have went from advocating for climate justice and for their right to industrialize to...Show moreIn recent years, China has thoroughly changed its position on climate justice and climate governance. They have went from advocating for climate justice and for their right to industrialize to making global climate governance a key part of their national and international identity. The Green Belt and Road Initiative has been a key factor in how China now profiles itself. In this paper, I argue how the Green Belt and Road Initiative can play a role in China’s global climate leadership ambitions, but also highlight some of its flaws that could hinder it instead.Show less
South Korea, Japan, and China are struggling with loneliness in their respective societies. As prolonged feelings of loneliness can have large and lasting consequences for one’s health, it should...Show moreSouth Korea, Japan, and China are struggling with loneliness in their respective societies. As prolonged feelings of loneliness can have large and lasting consequences for one’s health, it should be avoided at all costs. People found solace in watching livestreams; the streams are very personal and it feels like the hosts are in the room with you. In South Korea, mukbangs became popular as more and more people are living in single-person households and therefore more frequently eat alone as well. VTubers made it possible for Japanese people to interact with anime characters, giving life to large communities as a growing number of people are looking at technology to fulfill their social needs. Nǚ zhǔ bō streams provided young Chinese men that are unable to find real girlfriends a virtual girlfriend experience. Livestreaming is a breeding ground for parasocial relationships, as the relationship between streamer and viewer feels very intimate and real. Ideally would viewers find comfort in the company not of the streamers, but in the community as a whole, in which actual meaningful relationships can be formed.Show less
