Cultural exchange is so embedded in daily life that the importance of it for international relations is not apparent. Cultural products or services may unconsciously generate feelings towards the...Show moreCultural exchange is so embedded in daily life that the importance of it for international relations is not apparent. Cultural products or services may unconsciously generate feelings towards the nation they represent. Irish Riverdance, and Chinese dancing, for example, are actively generating emotions and stances among their international audiences, and the exchange of these cultural products generates mutual understanding between these nations. The aim of this thesis is to study the significance of cultural exchange as a means of soft power and cultural diplomacy in international communication and cooperation. The case studies of this thesis are Chinese and Irish performing arts. This study implies that the relations between China and Ireland are positively influenced by cultural diplomacy and soft power.Show less
We depend on media for information and the most important distributor thereof are news media. This thesis will evaluate different media perspective of four countries. A comparative quantitative...Show moreWe depend on media for information and the most important distributor thereof are news media. This thesis will evaluate different media perspective of four countries. A comparative quantitative content analysis of sixty-two articles from news websites from China, The U.S., England and the Netherlands aims to identify the different perspectives in the coverage of the event of U.S. President Trump his ‘state visit-plus’ to China. The thesis will address the mechanisms and history behind journalism with special interest in Chinese journalism. This is due to the controlling nature of Chinese domestic politics and the effects thereof on Chinese journalism. Concepts evaluated to obtain a better understanding of China’s media tactics and development are soft power and framing. These concepts, combined with a historical framework and the content analysis will provide a better understanding of the workings of media from different national perspectives.Show less
The Chinese Social Credit System (SCS) has often been described by Western observers as an “Orwellian nightmare”. However, within China, so such outrage appears to exist. Therefore, this paper...Show moreThe Chinese Social Credit System (SCS) has often been described by Western observers as an “Orwellian nightmare”. However, within China, so such outrage appears to exist. Therefore, this paper examines the current state of the SCS and analyses to what extent the system really intents to further repress the Chinese people using surveillance and big data. First, a number of common myths are dispelled, namely the confusion between Sesame Credit and SCS and the use of big data. Then, a more comprehensive overview of the SCS is created and the actual real-life implementation in local pilots is examined. The final chapters then turn to an interpretation of the SCS. The key finding is that while the SCS has the potential to turn into this feared Orwellian nightmare, this does not appear to be the intended goal of the system. Instead, the main focus is on improving the population’s “suzhi” (or: quality) in order to improve economic and social regulation and make China a more “trustworthy” place.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
Hoewel academici met name de huidige Chinese consumptiemaatschappij vanuit een Foucaultiaanse invalshoek, is het ook mogelijk om dit te doen vanuit een Gramsciaanse invalshoek. In deze scriptie...Show moreHoewel academici met name de huidige Chinese consumptiemaatschappij vanuit een Foucaultiaanse invalshoek, is het ook mogelijk om dit te doen vanuit een Gramsciaanse invalshoek. In deze scriptie betoog ik waarom dit laatste zinvol is.Show less
In this thesis, I discuss about the existence of an art theory in current Chinese policies to answer the main research question: what is Xi’s art theory and how does the Communist Chinese Party ...Show moreIn this thesis, I discuss about the existence of an art theory in current Chinese policies to answer the main research question: what is Xi’s art theory and how does the Communist Chinese Party (CCP) conceive of arts and literature (wenyi文艺)? Since arts and literature have been called upon to support and accelerate the achievement of the country’s goals, I will analyze the current Chinese situation from the perspective of art. Moreover, I will suggest that the formulation of an art theory by Xi, during the Beijing Forum on Literature and Art in 2014 , might be referring to the past to stress the element of continuity as legitimacy for the CCP’s rule and relevance.Show less
This thesis discusses the relationship between Taiwanese television (idol) dramas, advertising - in particular product placement, and the way in which young Taiwanese women, i.e. students between...Show moreThis thesis discusses the relationship between Taiwanese television (idol) dramas, advertising - in particular product placement, and the way in which young Taiwanese women, i.e. students between 18-25 years, identify with popular TV-series. The research itself is based on an on-line survey designed by the author herself.Show less
Over the course of history, the bicycle has earned its place in the Chinese and Taiwanese streets and has long been the primary mode of transportation for many people. Even though both China and...Show moreOver the course of history, the bicycle has earned its place in the Chinese and Taiwanese streets and has long been the primary mode of transportation for many people. Even though both China and Taiwan play a big role in the world’s bicycle market, changes seem to have occurred in the presence of bicycle in the Chinese and Taiwanese streets as well as its corresponding perception. This thesis will reflect on changes in the public perception of bicycles in Taiwan and China in the last 60 years by answering questions such as; how have people’s views on the bicycle and its use changed? How can these changes be explained and does the bicycle have a future in China and Taiwan?Show less
Although many studies have researched consumer purchasing behaviour in general, relatively few studies on car purchasing behaviour are publically available. Also, purchasing behaviour studies...Show moreAlthough many studies have researched consumer purchasing behaviour in general, relatively few studies on car purchasing behaviour are publically available. Also, purchasing behaviour studies focusing on both car segments and cross-cultural car purchasing behaviour are limited available. Nor did these studies include the role of materialism in their research on car buying decision making process. In addition, no study has yet conducted research on the comparison of Sino-European car segment buying behaviour. Besides contributing to the corporate automotive sector, this bachelor thesis is written in the context of Chinese Consumption Culture, with the aim to extend the existing academic literature on cross-cultural consumption behaviour by researching and identifying to what extent differences in consumer characteristics – including culture (Dutch versus urban Chinese) and materialism - affect the consumer’s car segment buying decision making process. Overall, the results have proven that (1) cultural differences between Chinese and Dutch (Non-Chinese) people affect differences regarding the consumer’s car segment buying decision in the following manner: Chinese cultural concepts Face, Family relationships and Sense of shame are positively correlated with Car segment. This implies-, that the higher the score on Chinese culture is, the higher the score on Car segment. Chinese-national respondents in this study generally scored higher on Chinese culture than Dutch nationals. Thus, culture differences affect differences in the consumer’s car segment buying decision. (2) Differences in Materialism as consumer characteristic do also influence the consumer’s car segment buying decision. The more materialistic, the higher the car segment. Thus, differences on materialism affect differences regarding the consumer’s car segment buying decision. (3) Multiple consumer characteristics may interact, causing a leverage or “turbo” effect regarding the consumer’s car segment buying decision. For example, if a person is both Chinese and highly materialistic, a leverage effect takes place on car segment buying decision – thus scoring higher on car segment than cases with no interaction.Show less
Met de invoering van een marktgerichte economie in 1978 gingen mensen steeds meer consumeren. Zo ontstond er onder de vrouwelijke consument een groeiende behoefte aan ideeën en tips over kleding en...Show moreMet de invoering van een marktgerichte economie in 1978 gingen mensen steeds meer consumeren. Zo ontstond er onder de vrouwelijke consument een groeiende behoefte aan ideeën en tips over kleding en uiterlijke verzorging. Deze behoefte werd ingevuld door de komst van overwegend Westerse en later ook Aziatische modetijdschriften vanaf 1988 die de lokale modetijdschriften markt domineerden. De internationale tijdschriften brachten nieuwe beelden en ideeën over schoonheid met zich mee. Dankzij het groeiende aanbod aan internationale cosmetische producten werd het voor de Chinese consument mogelijk het Westerse uiterlijk na te streven. De ideeën over schoonheid en mode worden in de gemondialiseerde commerciële wereld bepaald door de keuzes van anderen. Hierbij spelen redacteuren en de inhoud van modetijdschriften in China een belangrijke rol. Werd er bij de introductie van vele internationale modetijdschriften rond de eeuwwisseling nog weinig rekening gehouden met de lokale context, zo is er de laatste jaren een trend te zien waarbij de inhoud juist wordt aangepast aan die context. Na 1978 lijkt er langzamer-hand een scheiding te zijn ontstaan tussen uiterlijke schoonheid (voornamelijk ingevuld door Westerse uiterlijke kenmerken) en de innerlijke, morele schoonheid (Chinese modellen). Het uiterlijke schoonheidsideaal is heel commercieel en wordt toegeschreven aan de culturele ‘ander’ (Westen), terwijl de innerlijke schoonheid en de daarbij horende culturele waarden blijven toegeschreven aan Chinese vrouwen.Show less
This thesis looks into the change in leisure activities in the modern Chinese society since 1978 compared to traditional activities during the imperial period (before 1911) and the Maoist era (1949...Show moreThis thesis looks into the change in leisure activities in the modern Chinese society since 1978 compared to traditional activities during the imperial period (before 1911) and the Maoist era (1949-1976) and thereby focus on the concept of leisure, the population involved in leisure and the leisure activities. Furthermore this thesis explores the causes for these developments. Since 1978 leisure activities have become available to a greater variety of people, are more hedonistic and consequently less tied to idealistic goals than they have been before. Leisure has become a matter of the individual instead of the group and is used to define self and image. Driving forces underlying these changes can be found in several factors e.g. rising buying power, more available leisure time, individualisation of society and the opening up of China. This thesis further argues that money has played a big role by the development and coming into existence of these factors.Show less
The China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (CSPFTZ) has been established on September 29th 2013 in Shanghai. Shanghai has been the center of many historical events. In the 19th century, Shanghai...Show moreThe China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (CSPFTZ) has been established on September 29th 2013 in Shanghai. Shanghai has been the center of many historical events. In the 19th century, Shanghai was opened up to the outside world and forced to outside trade relations due to the Nanking Treaty of 1842 after the First Opium War (1839-1842) and was selected as a new port: the ‘Shanghai International Settlement’. The British, American and French settled in Shanghai and after 100 years Shanghai developed as the largest foreign trade port in China. Meanwhile, during the first Sino-Japanese War of 1895, China was mauled by a strong, Western influenced Japan. Attempts to reform China into a modern nation failed but after the 1911 Revolution, Shanghai emerged as a center of modern activities. The population doubled between 1895 and 1910 from 245,675 to 501,541 people as many Chinese were attracted by the city. During World War I (1914-1918) many people left while the diminished supply of Chinese export goods led to a higher demand of these export goods. Especially in the 1920s and 1930s, Shanghai grew as many silk filatures, cotton mills, and chemical works emerged. In the 1930s, Shanghai’s Port served as the main shipping center in the Far East; the city was seen as a cosmopolitan city. However, in 1937 Japan bombed Shanghai and occupied parts of China again, which lasted until 1945. People lived under brutal circumstances under the occupation of Japan and the conditions to develop into a cosmopolitan city moved from Shanghai to Hong Kong. In 1949, the CCP, led by Mao Zedong, took power and focused on rural regions resulting in neglected cities; the nation controlled Shanghai and the city was forced to dispose of its cosmopolitan life. However, when Mao Zedong died in 1976, the balance of power changed: Hua Guofeng established the ‘Open Door’ policy in 1977 before Deng Xiaoping returned to power in 1978. The new policy led to the beginning of its modernization process and several Special Economic Zones (SEZs) were established mainly to attract foreign direct investment. Since the opening up until 1997, China attracted billions of foreign investment (US dollars) and by the mid-1990s, the economy moved away from a command economy to a functioning market economy. After 1978, China’s modernization process took off really quickly and created a gap between South China including its coastal regions and North-East China as the South and its coastal areas are developing much faster. Therefore, China can be divided into two different phases of modernization according to Rostow’s Five-Stages of Growth (1960). The South and its coastal regions can be assigned to the final phase of modernization while the North-East part of China can be assigned to phase three. The SEZs which have been established since 1978 are particular geographic regions in countries used to encourage export services, industry, and manufacturing. In China, initially four SEZs were established in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Xiamen and Shantou to test the new policies and new institutions for the market-oriented economy in order to improve China’s economy. The role SEZs, and especially Shenzhen, played in China’s modernization process was quite apparent as average annual growth has been 9.4 percent since the 1980s: the SEZs boost China’s economy and moved towards a more technology-intensive and higher-value economy. 34 years later, on 29th September 2013, a new SEZ was established in Pudong, Shanghai: the CSPFTZ. The CSPFTZ has been established to enhance China’s economic position globally and to develop a new, replicable financial and administrative system which can be implemented in every region of the country. Nevertheless, the privileged status of ‘special’ is diminished since there are already many SEZs in China. However, as analysis shows, the zone operates differently from the majority of the SEZs which enables the CSPFTZ to offer enough advantages to attract foreign investors to be successful. The chances of success nonetheless depend on the government. The government encourages so many aspects and is experimenting with so many measures that the chance of success is questioned. But, if the government is able to achieve its aims, the CSPFTZ can be successful and could contribute to China’s South and coastal regions’ modernization process as the leading sectors shift towards more durable consumer goods and services in Rostow’s final phase.Show less
Television possesses the power to frame people’s lives and activities on a scale that no other form of media has ever been able to enjoy. This paper explores the various political missions of the...Show moreTelevision possesses the power to frame people’s lives and activities on a scale that no other form of media has ever been able to enjoy. This paper explores the various political missions of the Chinese television broadcast, and examines the modern type of propaganda publicized and disseminated throughout contemporary TV formats. Since its first introduction to China, the domestic digital box has become one of most efficient media for the spread of a new form of propaganda, thus helping the Party in its attempts to construct people’s identities. Given the findings that the media have always acted as mouthpieces of the government, this research points out that some particular television formats have been widely employed as thought work distributors. This thesis focuses primarily on TV serial dramas, which, despite often appearing to be the most innocuous and entertaining of broadcasts, are instead practically brimming with political discourses. More specifically, the main aim of this study is to explore the social and political contexts that have given rise to Dynasty dramas, which have emerged as the most conspicuous genre present on prime time TV thus far. Which sorts of political messages are concealed behind historical dramas? And for which reasons is the Party so committed to promulgating these types of ideas? Do these messages serve to legitimize the Party’s mandates? This research departs from the well-researched trend of exploring governmental media use in broad terms, turning its attention instead to television in particular. This essay widely examines the use of television in modern society, and epitomizes it as the new platform upon which the Party is able to construct or mold “politically educated” and “spiritually civilized” identities. Ultimately, the active engagement of dramas with cultural and political issues is proved, through the analysis of two of the most renowned contemporary Dynasty series “Yongzheng Dynasty” and “The Great Han Emperor Wu”-.Show less
