The 2018 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing was an historic event to chart the next stage of Sino-African relations. The event was also symbolic in showcasing a FOCAC that is co...Show moreThe 2018 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing was an historic event to chart the next stage of Sino-African relations. The event was also symbolic in showcasing a FOCAC that is co-owned by China and Africa. In view of growing Sino-African cooperation under the FOCAC, this thesis researches how Chinese and African media framed this edition of the FOCAC. I ask the following research question: What are the implications of Chinese and African news outlets’ different discourses of the FOCAC for China’s soft power in African countries? The thesis uses selected media from China (Xinhua, CGTN) and Africa (The Star, Daily Nation, Vanguard, Ahram Online, SABC News). I use content and discourse analyses of news articles and reports of the 2018 FOCAC to distinguish different versions of the FOCAC story, as well as themes emphasized by the respective news outlets. I also conduct a visual analysis of television items concerning the FOCAC where I examine their source and emphasized discursive elements in the visual materials. By conducting this multifaceted analysis of media discourse of the FOCAC, this thesis adds a new angle to scholarly research on Chinese soft-power and cultural diplomacy in Africa.Show less
In the summer of 2019, over a million people took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest a highly unpopular extradition law. Despite the withdrawal of the law, the protests continued for the rest...Show moreIn the summer of 2019, over a million people took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest a highly unpopular extradition law. Despite the withdrawal of the law, the protests continued for the rest of the year, throwing Hong Kong into turmoil, as protesters advocated for freedom and democracy. As a result, the 2019 Hong Kong protests became one of the most heavily covered events in the media, both nationally and internationally. The demonstrations received an especially large amount of attention in Taiwan and China, due to their proximity to Hong Kong and the Chinese government’s involvement in the protests. While Taiwanese politicians came out in support of protesters’ call for independence, the Chinese government’s increased involvement in Hong Kong’s inner affairs served as a catalyst for the protests. This study analyzed the discourse of 24 editorials covering the Hong Kong protests from two newspapers; the Taipei Times (Taiwan) and the Global Times (China). An inductive discourse analysis was utilized to see which linguistic and thematic methods were used by the authors to shape the reader's perception of the protests according to their newspaper’s ideology. Results showed that while the two newspapers’ coverage of the Hong Kong protests could not have been more different thematically, using opposing narratives and arguments, their style and rhetoric had a tendency to overlap, using similar rhetorical methods to get their viewpoints across to the readers.Show less
In the beginning of the 1990s, China witnessed the arrival of the internet. The internet allowed ordinary citizens to contribute to the production of media content by sharing news and opinions with...Show moreIn the beginning of the 1990s, China witnessed the arrival of the internet. The internet allowed ordinary citizens to contribute to the production of media content by sharing news and opinions with each other. The computer-mediated communication (CMC) technology provided a new medium of interaction for citizens and allowed them to mobilise more quickly and more efficiently. Since then, the notion of collective action took on new dimensions. New forms and practices of collective action started to appear on the internet in China. One of such practices is the Human Flesh Search Engine (HFSE). It is a public search for people driven by a massive collaboration of internet users. The participants share a common goal of revealing the truth and punishing targets of the search accused or suspected of wrongdoing. This thesis analyses the role of the internet in relation to social activism and collective action in China by answering the following research question: How does the CMC, that the internet facilitates, reflect the formation of collective action in China? To answer this question, I examined the CMC in the context of the HFSE phenomenon. I analysed two notable cases of the HFSE, namely, the South China tiger scandal (2007) and the search for “Liaoning Girl” (2008). Both cases demonstrated similar patterns in terms of formation of collective action and the following search for the target. The collective action in the context of the HFSE had an actual impact on the outcomes of these cases. The CMC provides a new medium of communication, which in turn facilitates the formation of collective action.Show less
The author explores the motives of Chinese parents to send their children to Waldorf school and how those change over time. Through the grounded theory analysis of field work data, the author...Show moreThe author explores the motives of Chinese parents to send their children to Waldorf school and how those change over time. Through the grounded theory analysis of field work data, the author concludes that there is a multitude of motives to make the initial decision for Waldorf. Being a Waldorf parent, however, is characterized by worrying much about whether the decision is still right and how to improve the childrens' education.Show less
This thesis analyses newspaper articles from two state-led newspapers of the PRC regarding the phone-call between the president of the US, Donald Trump, and president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, on...Show moreThis thesis analyses newspaper articles from two state-led newspapers of the PRC regarding the phone-call between the president of the US, Donald Trump, and president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, on December 2, 2016. This phone call suggested a possible attempt by the US to undermine the One-China policy, an essential part of China’s international relations. This thesis links the outcomes of the discourse analysis with the literature review, which explains the importance of discourse in international relations and the construction of a national identity. The analysis mainly focuses on three discourse topics and discursive strategies (intertextuality, language and pictures) of the newspaper articles. Both parts concentrate on the different identity manoeuvres which construct a notion of China’s national identity. Analysing the different articles showed that this phone call was an unexpected and an unacceptable event for the PRC. The discourse regarding China’s military power occurs quite strong in the period after the phone call. With regard to the construction of national identity, concluded is that the newspaper articles construct an identity of China which is ‘unassailable’ for any changes from external actors in Sino-U.S. or cross-strait relations. The position of Taiwan in China’s identity is constructed in a conflicting way by the articles. Language features often identify Taiwan as the ‘other’, which excludes Taiwan from China’s identity. However, when speaking about Sino-U.S. relations, Taiwan is included in China’s identity.Show less
Cryptocurrencies, although in their infancy, are becoming increasingly important for the global economy. Bitcoin was the first invented cryptocurrency, created by a group or person under the...Show moreCryptocurrencies, although in their infancy, are becoming increasingly important for the global economy. Bitcoin was the first invented cryptocurrency, created by a group or person under the pseudonym of Satoshi Nakamoto in 2007, allowing for the exchange of economic value by use of its verifiable and cryptographically secure blockchain. While many countries still don’t even know how to define cryptocurrencies, China has been regulating them for years. The Chinese tech industry also often exemplifies that it is at the forefront of global blockchain technology development with its numerous fast-growing companies and tokens such as DeepBrain Chain, Ontology Network, NEO, Tron, and QTUM, thus suggesting that the tech must be succeeding in certain areas, perhaps either as a result of government regulation, or in spite of it. This paper has contextualised the state of the Chinese blockchain industry in regards to a new type of blockchain political economy and in terms of the Chinese regulatory climate.Show less
The 2008 uprisings in Tibet have had a profound impact on Sino-Tibetan relations. This thesis looks at the Han-Chinese point of view on these uprisings as seen in a series of documentaries...Show moreThe 2008 uprisings in Tibet have had a profound impact on Sino-Tibetan relations. This thesis looks at the Han-Chinese point of view on these uprisings as seen in a series of documentaries broadcasted by CCTV. The thesis shows how the use of documentary film steers public opinion and how the documentaries fit into a broader hegemonic discourse.Show less
Cryptocurrencies have caught the attention of the media internationally. Some states are impartial or even encourage cryptocurrencies, whereas others want to regulate them. In China’s case the PRC...Show moreCryptocurrencies have caught the attention of the media internationally. Some states are impartial or even encourage cryptocurrencies, whereas others want to regulate them. In China’s case the PRC wants to sternly regulate the decentralized virtual asset in order to reduce financial risk and scams. The Chinese media has been reporting the strict regulations and depicted a certain “frame”. This thesis attempts to analyze that frame and how it is portrayed in the Chinese media by. This will be done by identifying the primary frames and tones in Chinese news articles.Show less
The arrival of Donald Trump on the global political stage, has significantly changed how other countries regard the US. One country where this is especially true is China. This thesis therefore...Show moreThe arrival of Donald Trump on the global political stage, has significantly changed how other countries regard the US. One country where this is especially true is China. This thesis therefore analyzed three different Chinese newspapers on their discourse regarding the US in the period between the latter part of the 2016 US elections and the first few months of Trump’s presidency. Special focus is paid to how the discourse of the newspapers relates to China. Generally, the newspapers treated the presidency of Trump, as well as his election, as symptoms of a greater US decline. Apart from US decline, there was also special emphasis in the newspapers on China’s importance as a great power. Overall, there was a big difference in reporting between the two state-owned newspapers and the one private-owned newspaper. These difference were mostly related to the focus of the articles and a relatively large shift in tone of the articles. The official newspapers changed their reporting on the US drastically in later reporting, as well as China’s relationship with the US. These changes betray a lack of coherent strategy in regards to China’s view of itself as a great power and its relationship with the US.Show less
This thesis looks at the air pollution in Shanghai and how Urban Public Green Spaces (UPGS's) can help to prevent it. It gives a brief history of air pollution and describes its consequences. In...Show moreThis thesis looks at the air pollution in Shanghai and how Urban Public Green Spaces (UPGS's) can help to prevent it. It gives a brief history of air pollution and describes its consequences. In this thesis both a classic UPGS and the modern Vertical Forests are described. In the final part of the thesis, a research was conducted to show that UPGS's indeed help to prevent air pollution in urban China.Show less
This thesis studies how online commentators in China discussed the recent US election. The thesis connects this topic to academic debates about the potential of digital media in China to function...Show moreThis thesis studies how online commentators in China discussed the recent US election. The thesis connects this topic to academic debates about the potential of digital media in China to function as a public sphere, and the thesis tried to make a case that we might probe online commentary to trace public discourses on important, emerging issues.Show less
For this thesis, I have looked at the discourse presented by Chinese media on pollution problems, through the lens of a case study of the Shanxi aniline spill in 2013. I have focused on the causes...Show moreFor this thesis, I have looked at the discourse presented by Chinese media on pollution problems, through the lens of a case study of the Shanxi aniline spill in 2013. I have focused on the causes of the problem and obstacles to solving the problem as they are presented in two news outlets: Xinhua News Agency and the magazine Southern Weekend. I have found that there are remarkable differences in reporting between the two news outlets, especially in the level of concern they show about the performance of local governments and their communication. Both news outlets focus strongly on the role of local governments and problems with communication and much less on the responsibility of the company that caused the incident.Show less
Environmental pollution is one of the most pressing challenges, the People´s Republic of China (PRC) is currently facing. That is not merely because air and water pollution in the PRC pose a direct...Show moreEnvironmental pollution is one of the most pressing challenges, the People´s Republic of China (PRC) is currently facing. That is not merely because air and water pollution in the PRC pose a direct threat to the health of its about 1.5 billion citizens, but also due to its potential to result in serious political and economic consequences, such as disrupted urbanization, social unrest and political instability. Recognizing the urgency to act, a growing number of Chinese citizens have begun to engage in environmental activism on a public, individual and organizational level, resulting in the development of a non-governmental sphere. This increasing environmental activism can be seen as a breeding ground for further socio-political change, and possibly the emergence of a civil society. The ‘Western’ academic literature often describes a correlation between the development of a civil society and democratization (cf. Hsu 2010: 263). However, such traditional liberal conceptualizations should be applied to the case of the PRC with caution. My thesis aims to find an appropriate framework to evaluate, to what extent the non-governmental sphere in the PRC can be regarded as a civil society. To do so, my thesis is going to answer the following research question: “How does environmental engagement impact the development of a Chinese civil society?”. My thesis is structured in such a manner that the following chapter (2) provides a literature review of the key concepts for analysis, covering environmental pollution, environmental engagement, and civil society. Moreover, I discuss relevant theoretical frameworks, and conceptualizations. The ensuing chapter (3) is divided into three sub-chapters. The first section, evaluates three examples of environmental participation in the PRC, which depict environmental engagement on three possible levels, namely the organizational, the public and the individual. The chosen selection of examples allows for a comprehensive overview of popular ways to engage in environmental activism in the PRC and sheds light on opportunities, and difficulties faced by the societal sector. The second section discusses the findings of the previous section, and examines what insights the case studies give into the nature of an emerging civil society in the PRC. The third section examines to what extent the societal sector of the PRC can be regarded as a civil society. The final chapter (4) presents conclusions drawn from the theory, and the case studies, assessing the impact of political participation on the emergence of a civil society. To obtain information for the sections of research and analysis, I am going to employ a variety of methods. The second chapter, discussing theoretical concepts, is mainly based on information drawn from the review of secondary sources. At times, also, primary sources were studied to support claims of the secondary literature. For the third chapter, analyzing case studies, discussing the findings, and assessing the nature of civil society in the PRC, both primary and secondary sources were reviewed. Used literature included primarily books and other academic publications, such as journal articles, and news items. A limitation to my research is that the thesis only uses English-language sources. Hence, it is essential to acknowledge that I have based my argumentation in this thesis on non-Chinese or translated documents. Therefore, the analytical section will pay regard to this limitation and seek to compensate this weakness with a critical analysis of the literature.Show less
This thesis provides an answer to the following research question: ‘What internet governance discourse was constructed and managed by Xi Jinping during the Wuzhen Summit?’ It is found that Xi...Show moreThis thesis provides an answer to the following research question: ‘What internet governance discourse was constructed and managed by Xi Jinping during the Wuzhen Summit?’ It is found that Xi Jinping and his administration draw from various background assumptions to construct their discourse. These assumptions see the internet as a geographic territory that is subject to the same geopolitical dynamics as ‘real space’, and see governments as well as states as being the only actors capable of enabling the successful future development of the internet.Show less
This thesis examines the narrative of the Chinese Communist Party as portrayed in revolutionary sites, also known as red tourism sites. Through a comparative policy analysis of the Red Tourism...Show moreThis thesis examines the narrative of the Chinese Communist Party as portrayed in revolutionary sites, also known as red tourism sites. Through a comparative policy analysis of the Red Tourism Initiative and case study of the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall, this thesis provides some insight on recent attempts of the Chinese government to evoke nationalism in museum space. More specifically, the Yan'an Revolutionary Hall propagates a positive image of the party's revolutionary past by using modern values such as entrepreneurship, allowing visitors to easily identify with a largely imagined past. As a consequence, museum space provides the Chinese government with legitimization in a society that has become increasingly alienated with communist values, ideals, and ideology.Show less
