This bachelor thesis asks why, when there are existing factors allowing the special administrative region of Macau to report news on the neutral side, Macau-based news agencies support Mainland...Show moreThis bachelor thesis asks why, when there are existing factors allowing the special administrative region of Macau to report news on the neutral side, Macau-based news agencies support Mainland China's take on the Taiwan question. This thesis argues the explanation for this puzzle lies in the notion of the established national identity for both Mainland China and the port-city of Macau.Show less
This thesis looks at how human rights activism of the Uyghur diaspora in The Netherlands and NGOs impacts Dutch foreign policy towards the People’s Republic of China. I explore academic writing on...Show moreThis thesis looks at how human rights activism of the Uyghur diaspora in The Netherlands and NGOs impacts Dutch foreign policy towards the People’s Republic of China. I explore academic writing on human rights, the construction of foreign policy and human rights activism related to the PRC. These are later looked at through the public and private actions of the Uyghur diaspora in The Netherlands. Furthermore, I will look at the influence of NGOs in Dutch foreign policy construction, as well as, their implications for supranational institutions such as the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU). Firstly, by look at existing literature on the Uyghurs in East-Turkestan. Secondly, in by blending literature with the information about the influence of the activism of the Uyghur diaspora in The Netherlands. Thirdly, by looking at the impact of the advocacy of NGOs within and outside the country and their impact on the foreign policy of the Dutch government. Through this case study, I examine the validity of the “spiral model” by Risse and Ropp in the Dutch context.Show less
This thesis examines the ways in which the People's Republic of China is portrayed in Dutch newspapers between 2019 and 2021. It uses Sinological-orientalism for its theoretical framework and...Show moreThis thesis examines the ways in which the People's Republic of China is portrayed in Dutch newspapers between 2019 and 2021. It uses Sinological-orientalism for its theoretical framework and applies a critical discourse analysis on 120 newspaper articles. It seeks to understand the relation between power and the knowledge of the People's Republic of China that is present in these newspaper articles.Show less
The present research analyzes, compares and discusses China’s efforts to green its domestic power sector and Chinese outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in energy between 2013 and 2018....Show moreThe present research analyzes, compares and discusses China’s efforts to green its domestic power sector and Chinese outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in energy between 2013 and 2018. Chinese policies, regulations and guidelines concerning both are considered. Both quantitative data and qualitative data is included in the discussion. Green economics and green development are the lens through which the findings have been observed and interpreted. The ultimate result of the research is that, even though the power mix of Chinese OFDI in energy in 2018 had a higher percentage of renewable energy than China’s domestic power mix (37% versus 12%), the policies regulating China’s power sector are tailored to make it green, namely by reducing the consumption and production of fossil energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and increasing the share of renewable energy in China’s total energy mix. On the other hand, guidelines concerning the environmental dimension of Chinese OFDI do not make any concrete and enforceable efforts to green investments. Only the policies aimed at encouraging OFDI in renewable energy seem to have the effect of greening Chinese OFDI in energy.Show less
The rise of the People’s Republic of China and Beijing’s hegemonic aspirations pose a challenge to academic research, constituting an issue that is worth of interest and analysis for its...Show moreThe rise of the People’s Republic of China and Beijing’s hegemonic aspirations pose a challenge to academic research, constituting an issue that is worth of interest and analysis for its implications on international relations. This work targets two elements in Chinese foreign politics: the Community of Shared Future for Mankind and the Near-Seas Strategy, each of which has a major role in Beijing’s relations with other countries. Moreover, this thesis proposes that the relation between the two elements is hitherto unexplored and warrants for further investigation, for these topics often recur in IR literature, but only independently. Therefore, it sets to understand the nature of such relation, through an analysis that is both numerical and qualitative – highlighting their meaning, components and implications – as well as an interpretation through the concept of Harmony. The analysis will show that documents and discourses concerning the Community of Shared Future for Mankind focus mostly on peaceful development and (win-win) cooperation, whereas the Near-Seas Strategy expresses and addresses Beijing’s concerns in the South Chinas Sea and towards the ongoing disputes with other countries in the area, namely Taiwan. Finally, the interpretation through the concept of Harmony will shed a light on their coherency towards the goal of a Harmonious society.Show less
This essay examines whether or not Chinese firms differ in CSR approach, focusing on sustainable development, when compared to Western MNCs in the PRC. To do so, corporate identity, output and CSR...Show moreThis essay examines whether or not Chinese firms differ in CSR approach, focusing on sustainable development, when compared to Western MNCs in the PRC. To do so, corporate identity, output and CSR reporting were compared for three case study firms: BMW Group (Western MNC), Brilliance China Automotive Holdings (Chinese firm), and BMW-Brilliance (a joint venture between the other two firms). The joint venture was included, because of certain ownership restrictions in the PRC in the automotive industry and the Western firm as a sole entity could not be examined in the PRC. The results showed that the Western MNC outperformed the other cases on all three categories, the joint venture came in at a close second, and the Chinese firm lacked far behind on all three categories. Comparing the results between the Western MNC and the joint venture seemed to indicate that the joint venture is merely used as a vessel for the Western MNC to sell/produce vehicles in the PRC due to the ownership restrictions. The context of the PRC did not seem to matter significantly, as BBA and BMW showed strikingly similar results. Results did show that certain theories surrounding CSR practicing in the PRC can be applied to Western MNCs in the PRC as well.Show less
This thesis is about the viability of the Evenki language in China and Russia, and the influence of the language policies in the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and the PRC (People's...Show moreThis thesis is about the viability of the Evenki language in China and Russia, and the influence of the language policies in the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and the PRC (People's Republic of China). Evenks are originally Siberian people, who currently live in China and Russia. During the communist period the use of the language has declined. This thesis compares both language policies and draws conclusions about to what extent both languages policies have influenced the viability of the language in both countries.Show less
This thesis will use Gunter Schubert’s model for policy analysis in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to examine how the PRC’s government structure is affecting its climate change policies....Show moreThis thesis will use Gunter Schubert’s model for policy analysis in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to examine how the PRC’s government structure is affecting its climate change policies. After explaining why it is important for the PRC’s government to address the issue of climate change, it will analyze the output zone, implementation zone, and evaluation zone of the green policy process. In the end, this thesis concludes that although the PRC is facing difficulties with implementing green policies at the local level, increased checks by both the central and public level are steadily increasing overall green policy efficiency.Show less
