In this thesis, I have found that while China claims to remain neutral between Ukraine and Russia, China’s news media, "Xinhua News Agency" and "China Daily", seem to present a clear antagonist...Show moreIn this thesis, I have found that while China claims to remain neutral between Ukraine and Russia, China’s news media, "Xinhua News Agency" and "China Daily", seem to present a clear antagonist between the countries, namely the U.S. Through several discursive techniques, the two news organizations present the U.S. as a cunning actor that drags others into a ‘proxy war’.Show less
This thesis investigates how Chinese exchange students have come to experience Dutch society during their time in the Netherlands in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, this thesis...Show moreThis thesis investigates how Chinese exchange students have come to experience Dutch society during their time in the Netherlands in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, this thesis also investigates how this experience abroad has made Chinese exchange students reflect on their own national identity.Show less
This thesis looks into sonic aspects of painting, specifically within the time period of China's Song Dynasty. A selection of paintings is made in which aspects constituting soundscape are...Show moreThis thesis looks into sonic aspects of painting, specifically within the time period of China's Song Dynasty. A selection of paintings is made in which aspects constituting soundscape are categorised.Show less
Deze scriptie is een toepassing van een filosofische discussie over de aard van privacy en vertrouwen op de concrete casus van het Chinese sociaal kredietsysteem.
The aim of this thesis is to examine how the discourse of the Chinese government regarding the environment has evolved over time, and what role environmental propaganda has played in generating...Show moreThe aim of this thesis is to examine how the discourse of the Chinese government regarding the environment has evolved over time, and what role environmental propaganda has played in generating this discourse. This research also touches on the underlying messages and values of this propaganda, and how it communicates and constructs specific representations about the environment and environmental protection.Show less
Bachelorthesis die onderzoekt of het succes van de katholieke en protestantse missies vanaf eind 16e eeuw tot eind 19e eeuw met elkaar vergeleken kunnen worden.
Providing for deceased ancestors in the afterlife through offerings is a millennia-old custom in China. In recent years have the elaborate paper effigies of worldly goods that are burned for this...Show moreProviding for deceased ancestors in the afterlife through offerings is a millennia-old custom in China. In recent years have the elaborate paper effigies of worldly goods that are burned for this purpose however received heavy criticism in Chinese and international media as the inclusion of modern luxury and brand items into the repertory of paper offering goods is seen as a deviation from long-standing traditions. The comparative study conducted in this thesis puts side by side ancient burial goods, the predecessors of the current paper offerings, and contemporary paper effigies in an attempt to answer the question whether luxury and brand items in the ancestral offering context constitute as claimed a break with tradition. The study has shown that throughout history, luxury items have been a constant feature of ancestral offerings. The expensive goods are not only a sign of the wealth and status of the bereaved family members in the hereafter, but also help the deceased to gain prestige and a high position in the social hierarchy of the afterlife. While in earlier times, the value of an offering was primarily determined by the value of the material it was made from, symbolism became the main indicator of value as offerings began to be commonly made from cheap materials like clay and nowadays paper. The replicas of contemporary luxury and brand items with their associated value are a modern take on the ancient practice of assigning value to otherwise valueless offerings through symbolic power.Show less
In China, more and more security cameras on the streets are equipped with facial recognition technology. This artificial intelligent technology can identify a person immediately. Some fear for a...Show moreIn China, more and more security cameras on the streets are equipped with facial recognition technology. This artificial intelligent technology can identify a person immediately. Some fear for a great scale breach of privacy. This thesis discusses how the Chinese government conveys the message to the people that it is using this facial recognition technology. By conducting a discourse analysis, Chinese state-media Xinhua.net articles are analyzed. Mainly, this thesis shows that there is hardly any mention of privacy breach by using this technology in the articles. Second, it shows that local instead of national initiatives of facial recognition technology use are discussed to a larger extent.Show less
China’s growing relevance on the digital world stage, and in the global economic system in general, calls for an analysis of its policies regarding blockchain technology. This thesis provides an...Show moreChina’s growing relevance on the digital world stage, and in the global economic system in general, calls for an analysis of its policies regarding blockchain technology. This thesis provides an analysis of a Chinese blockchain platform, NEO, to understand to what extent China’s blockchain policies serve its agenda for global leadership in the area of technological development.Show less
In order to establish whether the South African energy industry is in need of external assistance to develop and successfully mature, this dissertation focuses on the commercial engagement between...Show moreIn order to establish whether the South African energy industry is in need of external assistance to develop and successfully mature, this dissertation focuses on the commercial engagement between China and South Africa in the renewable energy industry for the purposes of attaining growth in South African renewable sources of energy. Research on this matter is juxtaposed to a more domestic answer to the issues of renewable energy generation in South Africa, namely the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). By drawing a comparison between these two, this thesis provides an answer as to whether Chinese external involvement in the South African renewable energy industry is contributing to a shift towards sustainable energy production. Ultimately, this dissertation provides an answer to the following question: To what extent has international energy cooperation, especially between China and South Africa, facilitated growth in the South African renewable energy sector when compared to the South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP)? With this question in mind, this thesis argues that the highly active Chinese actors in the South African renewable energy industry, mainly Huawei, are (most likely to remain) the main force driving South Africa’s transition towards sustainable development. This is supported with evidence proving the superiority of such actors in terms of experience, knowledge and the provision of technology tailored specifically towards the needs of the South African case as opposed to the efforts made by domestic firms and suppliers.Show less
This thesis focuses on Silicon Valley and China to understand what elements have made Silicon Valley and China’s technology sectors so successful, and to what degree they are different....Show moreThis thesis focuses on Silicon Valley and China to understand what elements have made Silicon Valley and China’s technology sectors so successful, and to what degree they are different. Specifically, it will focus on the role of the government in shaping the respective markets. The American and Chinese view of the government’s role in economic development differs both in theory and practice. The U.S. traditionally advocated for a liberal free-market view of the economy, with the government having a facilitating role. In contrast, true to its socialist ideology, China has advocated a strong role of the government in the economy, where the government principally takes on a controlling and planning role. While in theory these views are at the opposite side of the spectrum between freedom from the state versus control by the state, in practice there are variations and exceptions. The goal of this thesis is to provide further insight on these similarities and differences through a case-study based analysis of both Silicon Valley and China's tech sector.Show less
China has a burgeoning presence in sub-Saharan Africa. The country has become the biggest trading partner of the continent. China's presence nonetheless has been very polemic and divisive. Much...Show moreChina has a burgeoning presence in sub-Saharan Africa. The country has become the biggest trading partner of the continent. China's presence nonetheless has been very polemic and divisive. Much literature has been written about the one-sided benefit of Sino-African relations, in China's favour. This thesis takes a different angle, to explore African agency in engaging with China. The role of African actors such as the political elites and the political structures will be analysed, to determine their role in hindering or making relations with China conducive to economic and political development.Show less
This research analyzes to what extent the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) economic development policies, as presented in their 13th five-year plan, address the areas crucial to ensuring the...Show moreThis research analyzes to what extent the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) economic development policies, as presented in their 13th five-year plan, address the areas crucial to ensuring the sustainability of China’s economic development. The CCP’s 13th five-year plan is analyzed and its key-aspects are presented. The sustainability of China’s economic development according to the CCP, the World Bank and the OECD, Chinese sources, and Western sources is discussed. Seven areas crucial to ensuring the sustainability of China’s economic development, according to the literature, are identified and compared to the key-aspects of the CCP’s 13th five-year plan. This research finds that all of the seven areas deemed crucial to the sustainability of China’s economic development were addressed to a certain extent in the 13th five-year plan.Show less
