Experience

Publications

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• The Arctic Council: governance within the far north. Douglas C. Nord. 2016. London and New York, NY: Routledge. xiv + 110 p, hardcover, ISBN 978-1-138-79920-2. GBP 120.

  Polar Record 55:2, pp. 115-116

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• The Arctic Council: governance within the far north. Douglas C. Nord. 2016. London and New York, NY: Routledge. xiv + 110 p, hardcover, ISBN 978-1-138-79920-2. GBP 120.

  Polar Record 55:2, pp. 115-116

• How Movie References Can Make Teaching Theories More Accessible

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• The Arctic Council: governance within the far north. Douglas C. Nord. 2016. London and New York, NY: Routledge. xiv + 110 p, hardcover, ISBN 978-1-138-79920-2. GBP 120.

  Polar Record 55:2, pp. 115-116

• How Movie References Can Make Teaching Theories More Accessible

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Rising Assertiveness Versus Peaceful Development: Making Sense of China’s Ambivalent International Behavior

  Culture Mandala 12:1, pp. 23-44

  In the past few years, especially after the 2008 global financial crisis, China has become more assertive, not just in its military posture but also in its diplomatic affairs and economic interactions. Despite this rising assertiveness, China’s grand strategy officially remains that of ‘Peaceful Development.’ In consequence, scholars have disagreed about the trajectory of China’s grand strategy in light of its often ambivalent behavior. To explain this ambivalence, this article will take a closer empirical look at two important developments regarding China’s international affairs: The softening on China’s preoccupation with territorial integrity and sovereignty has been exhibited in taking sides with Russia in the Ukraine Crisis, as well as its continually increasing participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. In contrast to more common materialist explanations, this article argues that the ambivalence of these actions can best be explained by contextualizing them with China’s history and sense of legitimacy.

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• The Arctic Council: governance within the far north. Douglas C. Nord. 2016. London and New York, NY: Routledge. xiv + 110 p, hardcover, ISBN 978-1-138-79920-2. GBP 120.

  Polar Record 55:2, pp. 115-116

• How Movie References Can Make Teaching Theories More Accessible

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Rising Assertiveness Versus Peaceful Development: Making Sense of China’s Ambivalent International Behavior

  Culture Mandala 12:1, pp. 23-44

  In the past few years, especially after the 2008 global financial crisis, China has become more assertive, not just in its military posture but also in its diplomatic affairs and economic interactions. Despite this rising assertiveness, China’s grand strategy officially remains that of ‘Peaceful Development.’ In consequence, scholars have disagreed about the trajectory of China’s grand strategy in light of its often ambivalent behavior. To explain this ambivalence, this article will take a closer empirical look at two important developments regarding China’s international affairs: The softening on China’s preoccupation with territorial integrity and sovereignty has been exhibited in taking sides with Russia in the Ukraine Crisis, as well as its continually increasing participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. In contrast to more common materialist explanations, this article argues that the ambivalence of these actions can best be explained by contextualizing them with China’s history and sense of legitimacy.

• Review: Halper, Stefan A. Beijing Consensus: Legitimizing Authoritarianism in Our Time. New York, NY: Basic Books, [2010] 2012. 336 pp

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 22:1

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• The Arctic Council: governance within the far north. Douglas C. Nord. 2016. London and New York, NY: Routledge. xiv + 110 p, hardcover, ISBN 978-1-138-79920-2. GBP 120.

  Polar Record 55:2, pp. 115-116

• How Movie References Can Make Teaching Theories More Accessible

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Rising Assertiveness Versus Peaceful Development: Making Sense of China’s Ambivalent International Behavior

  Culture Mandala 12:1, pp. 23-44

  In the past few years, especially after the 2008 global financial crisis, China has become more assertive, not just in its military posture but also in its diplomatic affairs and economic interactions. Despite this rising assertiveness, China’s grand strategy officially remains that of ‘Peaceful Development.’ In consequence, scholars have disagreed about the trajectory of China’s grand strategy in light of its often ambivalent behavior. To explain this ambivalence, this article will take a closer empirical look at two important developments regarding China’s international affairs: The softening on China’s preoccupation with territorial integrity and sovereignty has been exhibited in taking sides with Russia in the Ukraine Crisis, as well as its continually increasing participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. In contrast to more common materialist explanations, this article argues that the ambivalence of these actions can best be explained by contextualizing them with China’s history and sense of legitimacy.

• Review: Halper, Stefan A. Beijing Consensus: Legitimizing Authoritarianism in Our Time. New York, NY: Basic Books, [2010] 2012. 336 pp

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 22:1

• North Korea Cyber Capabilities

  In: Paul J. Springer, Encyclopedia of Cyber Warfare (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO), pp. 207-209.

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• The Arctic Council: governance within the far north. Douglas C. Nord. 2016. London and New York, NY: Routledge. xiv + 110 p, hardcover, ISBN 978-1-138-79920-2. GBP 120.

  Polar Record 55:2, pp. 115-116

• How Movie References Can Make Teaching Theories More Accessible

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Rising Assertiveness Versus Peaceful Development: Making Sense of China’s Ambivalent International Behavior

  Culture Mandala 12:1, pp. 23-44

  In the past few years, especially after the 2008 global financial crisis, China has become more assertive, not just in its military posture but also in its diplomatic affairs and economic interactions. Despite this rising assertiveness, China’s grand strategy officially remains that of ‘Peaceful Development.’ In consequence, scholars have disagreed about the trajectory of China’s grand strategy in light of its often ambivalent behavior. To explain this ambivalence, this article will take a closer empirical look at two important developments regarding China’s international affairs: The softening on China’s preoccupation with territorial integrity and sovereignty has been exhibited in taking sides with Russia in the Ukraine Crisis, as well as its continually increasing participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. In contrast to more common materialist explanations, this article argues that the ambivalence of these actions can best be explained by contextualizing them with China’s history and sense of legitimacy.

• Review: Halper, Stefan A. Beijing Consensus: Legitimizing Authoritarianism in Our Time. New York, NY: Basic Books, [2010] 2012. 336 pp

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 22:1

• North Korea Cyber Capabilities

  In: Paul J. Springer, Encyclopedia of Cyber Warfare (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO), pp. 207-209.

• Gamification: It's in the Game

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• The Arctic Council: governance within the far north. Douglas C. Nord. 2016. London and New York, NY: Routledge. xiv + 110 p, hardcover, ISBN 978-1-138-79920-2. GBP 120.

  Polar Record 55:2, pp. 115-116

• How Movie References Can Make Teaching Theories More Accessible

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Rising Assertiveness Versus Peaceful Development: Making Sense of China’s Ambivalent International Behavior

  Culture Mandala 12:1, pp. 23-44

  In the past few years, especially after the 2008 global financial crisis, China has become more assertive, not just in its military posture but also in its diplomatic affairs and economic interactions. Despite this rising assertiveness, China’s grand strategy officially remains that of ‘Peaceful Development.’ In consequence, scholars have disagreed about the trajectory of China’s grand strategy in light of its often ambivalent behavior. To explain this ambivalence, this article will take a closer empirical look at two important developments regarding China’s international affairs: The softening on China’s preoccupation with territorial integrity and sovereignty has been exhibited in taking sides with Russia in the Ukraine Crisis, as well as its continually increasing participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. In contrast to more common materialist explanations, this article argues that the ambivalence of these actions can best be explained by contextualizing them with China’s history and sense of legitimacy.

• Review: Halper, Stefan A. Beijing Consensus: Legitimizing Authoritarianism in Our Time. New York, NY: Basic Books, [2010] 2012. 336 pp

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 22:1

• North Korea Cyber Capabilities

  In: Paul J. Springer, Encyclopedia of Cyber Warfare (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO), pp. 207-209.

• Gamification: It's in the Game

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Occupation During and After the War (China)

  1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War, ed. by Ute Daniel, Peter Gatrell, Oliver Janz, Heather Jones, Jennifer Keene, Alan Kramer, and Bill Nasson, issued by Freie Universität Berlin

  This article surveys the occupation of the formerly German-leased territory around the Jiaozhou Bay with Qingdao as its capital city by the Japanese during and after the First World War. It first describes the initial ultimatum of the Japanese to the Germans to turn over the territory, which today is the peninsular part of China’s Shandong province. It then goes further into the siege and ensuing occupation by the Japanese, which lasted throughout the First World War and another four years longer, until 1922. To conclude, the article describes the eventual turning over of the territory by the Japanese back to China.

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• The Arctic Council: governance within the far north. Douglas C. Nord. 2016. London and New York, NY: Routledge. xiv + 110 p, hardcover, ISBN 978-1-138-79920-2. GBP 120.

  Polar Record 55:2, pp. 115-116

• How Movie References Can Make Teaching Theories More Accessible

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Rising Assertiveness Versus Peaceful Development: Making Sense of China’s Ambivalent International Behavior

  Culture Mandala 12:1, pp. 23-44

  In the past few years, especially after the 2008 global financial crisis, China has become more assertive, not just in its military posture but also in its diplomatic affairs and economic interactions. Despite this rising assertiveness, China’s grand strategy officially remains that of ‘Peaceful Development.’ In consequence, scholars have disagreed about the trajectory of China’s grand strategy in light of its often ambivalent behavior. To explain this ambivalence, this article will take a closer empirical look at two important developments regarding China’s international affairs: The softening on China’s preoccupation with territorial integrity and sovereignty has been exhibited in taking sides with Russia in the Ukraine Crisis, as well as its continually increasing participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. In contrast to more common materialist explanations, this article argues that the ambivalence of these actions can best be explained by contextualizing them with China’s history and sense of legitimacy.

• Review: Halper, Stefan A. Beijing Consensus: Legitimizing Authoritarianism in Our Time. New York, NY: Basic Books, [2010] 2012. 336 pp

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 22:1

• North Korea Cyber Capabilities

  In: Paul J. Springer, Encyclopedia of Cyber Warfare (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO), pp. 207-209.

• Gamification: It's in the Game

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Occupation During and After the War (China)

  1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War, ed. by Ute Daniel, Peter Gatrell, Oliver Janz, Heather Jones, Jennifer Keene, Alan Kramer, and Bill Nasson, issued by Freie Universität Berlin

  This article surveys the occupation of the formerly German-leased territory around the Jiaozhou Bay with Qingdao as its capital city by the Japanese during and after the First World War. It first describes the initial ultimatum of the Japanese to the Germans to turn over the territory, which today is the peninsular part of China’s Shandong province. It then goes further into the siege and ensuing occupation by the Japanese, which lasted throughout the First World War and another four years longer, until 1922. To conclude, the article describes the eventual turning over of the territory by the Japanese back to China.

• China's Contradictory Grand Strategy Manifestations: Examining the Rare Earths Export Restrictions and the One Belt, One Road Initiative

  Tamkang Journal of International Affairs 20:1, pp. 1-60 (peer-reviewed)

  In the past few years, China has exhibited a rising assertiveness in international relations, including trade, although its official grand strategy remains "Peaceful Development." Examples of this contradictory trajectory are China's rare earth elements export restrictions (assertive) and the One Belt, One Road initiative (peaceful). This article seeks to establish, on the one hand, whether or not these examples are conforming to or diverging from "Peaceful Development," and therefore actually a manifestation of the alleged rising assertiveness on China's part, and on the other hand, identify the reason why China is acting ambivalently. To accomplish this, this article gives historical-cultural context to the analyzed cases in order to explain them via an innovative approach using intangible factors rather than the more commonplace materialist explanations. Results of the analysis show that for the understanding of these grand strategy manifestations and their (at times) perceived rising assertiveness and inconsistency, a good grasp of China's historical memory and sense of legitimacy is determining.

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• The Arctic Council: governance within the far north. Douglas C. Nord. 2016. London and New York, NY: Routledge. xiv + 110 p, hardcover, ISBN 978-1-138-79920-2. GBP 120.

  Polar Record 55:2, pp. 115-116

• How Movie References Can Make Teaching Theories More Accessible

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Rising Assertiveness Versus Peaceful Development: Making Sense of China’s Ambivalent International Behavior

  Culture Mandala 12:1, pp. 23-44

  In the past few years, especially after the 2008 global financial crisis, China has become more assertive, not just in its military posture but also in its diplomatic affairs and economic interactions. Despite this rising assertiveness, China’s grand strategy officially remains that of ‘Peaceful Development.’ In consequence, scholars have disagreed about the trajectory of China’s grand strategy in light of its often ambivalent behavior. To explain this ambivalence, this article will take a closer empirical look at two important developments regarding China’s international affairs: The softening on China’s preoccupation with territorial integrity and sovereignty has been exhibited in taking sides with Russia in the Ukraine Crisis, as well as its continually increasing participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. In contrast to more common materialist explanations, this article argues that the ambivalence of these actions can best be explained by contextualizing them with China’s history and sense of legitimacy.

• Review: Halper, Stefan A. Beijing Consensus: Legitimizing Authoritarianism in Our Time. New York, NY: Basic Books, [2010] 2012. 336 pp

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 22:1

• North Korea Cyber Capabilities

  In: Paul J. Springer, Encyclopedia of Cyber Warfare (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO), pp. 207-209.

• Gamification: It's in the Game

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Occupation During and After the War (China)

  1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War, ed. by Ute Daniel, Peter Gatrell, Oliver Janz, Heather Jones, Jennifer Keene, Alan Kramer, and Bill Nasson, issued by Freie Universität Berlin

  This article surveys the occupation of the formerly German-leased territory around the Jiaozhou Bay with Qingdao as its capital city by the Japanese during and after the First World War. It first describes the initial ultimatum of the Japanese to the Germans to turn over the territory, which today is the peninsular part of China’s Shandong province. It then goes further into the siege and ensuing occupation by the Japanese, which lasted throughout the First World War and another four years longer, until 1922. To conclude, the article describes the eventual turning over of the territory by the Japanese back to China.

• China's Contradictory Grand Strategy Manifestations: Examining the Rare Earths Export Restrictions and the One Belt, One Road Initiative

  Tamkang Journal of International Affairs 20:1, pp. 1-60 (peer-reviewed)

  In the past few years, China has exhibited a rising assertiveness in international relations, including trade, although its official grand strategy remains "Peaceful Development." Examples of this contradictory trajectory are China's rare earth elements export restrictions (assertive) and the One Belt, One Road initiative (peaceful). This article seeks to establish, on the one hand, whether or not these examples are conforming to or diverging from "Peaceful Development," and therefore actually a manifestation of the alleged rising assertiveness on China's part, and on the other hand, identify the reason why China is acting ambivalently. To accomplish this, this article gives historical-cultural context to the analyzed cases in order to explain them via an innovative approach using intangible factors rather than the more commonplace materialist explanations. Results of the analysis show that for the understanding of these grand strategy manifestations and their (at times) perceived rising assertiveness and inconsistency, a good grasp of China's historical memory and sense of legitimacy is determining.

• The Debate on China’s Grand Strategy

  China Policy Institute at the University of Nottingham

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• The Arctic Council: governance within the far north. Douglas C. Nord. 2016. London and New York, NY: Routledge. xiv + 110 p, hardcover, ISBN 978-1-138-79920-2. GBP 120.

  Polar Record 55:2, pp. 115-116

• How Movie References Can Make Teaching Theories More Accessible

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Rising Assertiveness Versus Peaceful Development: Making Sense of China’s Ambivalent International Behavior

  Culture Mandala 12:1, pp. 23-44

  In the past few years, especially after the 2008 global financial crisis, China has become more assertive, not just in its military posture but also in its diplomatic affairs and economic interactions. Despite this rising assertiveness, China’s grand strategy officially remains that of ‘Peaceful Development.’ In consequence, scholars have disagreed about the trajectory of China’s grand strategy in light of its often ambivalent behavior. To explain this ambivalence, this article will take a closer empirical look at two important developments regarding China’s international affairs: The softening on China’s preoccupation with territorial integrity and sovereignty has been exhibited in taking sides with Russia in the Ukraine Crisis, as well as its continually increasing participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. In contrast to more common materialist explanations, this article argues that the ambivalence of these actions can best be explained by contextualizing them with China’s history and sense of legitimacy.

• Review: Halper, Stefan A. Beijing Consensus: Legitimizing Authoritarianism in Our Time. New York, NY: Basic Books, [2010] 2012. 336 pp

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 22:1

• North Korea Cyber Capabilities

  In: Paul J. Springer, Encyclopedia of Cyber Warfare (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO), pp. 207-209.

• Gamification: It's in the Game

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Occupation During and After the War (China)

  1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War, ed. by Ute Daniel, Peter Gatrell, Oliver Janz, Heather Jones, Jennifer Keene, Alan Kramer, and Bill Nasson, issued by Freie Universität Berlin

  This article surveys the occupation of the formerly German-leased territory around the Jiaozhou Bay with Qingdao as its capital city by the Japanese during and after the First World War. It first describes the initial ultimatum of the Japanese to the Germans to turn over the territory, which today is the peninsular part of China’s Shandong province. It then goes further into the siege and ensuing occupation by the Japanese, which lasted throughout the First World War and another four years longer, until 1922. To conclude, the article describes the eventual turning over of the territory by the Japanese back to China.

• China's Contradictory Grand Strategy Manifestations: Examining the Rare Earths Export Restrictions and the One Belt, One Road Initiative

  Tamkang Journal of International Affairs 20:1, pp. 1-60 (peer-reviewed)

  In the past few years, China has exhibited a rising assertiveness in international relations, including trade, although its official grand strategy remains "Peaceful Development." Examples of this contradictory trajectory are China's rare earth elements export restrictions (assertive) and the One Belt, One Road initiative (peaceful). This article seeks to establish, on the one hand, whether or not these examples are conforming to or diverging from "Peaceful Development," and therefore actually a manifestation of the alleged rising assertiveness on China's part, and on the other hand, identify the reason why China is acting ambivalently. To accomplish this, this article gives historical-cultural context to the analyzed cases in order to explain them via an innovative approach using intangible factors rather than the more commonplace materialist explanations. Results of the analysis show that for the understanding of these grand strategy manifestations and their (at times) perceived rising assertiveness and inconsistency, a good grasp of China's historical memory and sense of legitimacy is determining.

• The Debate on China’s Grand Strategy

  China Policy Institute at the University of Nottingham

• Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Border Minorities in China’s Foreign Relations with South Asia

  Journal of Borderlands Studies 34:3, pp. 413-431 (peer-reviewed)

  This article takes a closer look at how China’s government deals with border minorities in the foreign relations with its neighboring South Asian states. To secure its periphery, China has been known to push its neighbors to support border security, including repressive measures against refugee populations which could potentially threaten China’s domestic peace by inciting or supporting secessionist movements. This study highlights the roles of the Tibetan and Uighur minorities in the relations of China with adjacent states in South Asia. For the Tibetan minority, the article will analyze Sino-Nepalese as well as Sino-Indian relations; concerning the Uighur minority, Sino-Pakistani relations will be highlighted. These case studies promise to be interesting also because of the range of relationships between China and these countries, Pakistan being a relatively close ally, Nepal a buffer state in which China and India compete for power, and India being at least a competitor state, if not arch-enemy—given still existing border disputes. India and Nepal house the first and second largest Tibetan refugee populations worldwide, respectively, while only a small Uighur population lives in Pakistan. Expected results should show the relative importance of border minorities and therefore, Chinese domestic politics in foreign relations with the selected cases.

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• The Arctic Council: governance within the far north. Douglas C. Nord. 2016. London and New York, NY: Routledge. xiv + 110 p, hardcover, ISBN 978-1-138-79920-2. GBP 120.

  Polar Record 55:2, pp. 115-116

• How Movie References Can Make Teaching Theories More Accessible

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Rising Assertiveness Versus Peaceful Development: Making Sense of China’s Ambivalent International Behavior

  Culture Mandala 12:1, pp. 23-44

  In the past few years, especially after the 2008 global financial crisis, China has become more assertive, not just in its military posture but also in its diplomatic affairs and economic interactions. Despite this rising assertiveness, China’s grand strategy officially remains that of ‘Peaceful Development.’ In consequence, scholars have disagreed about the trajectory of China’s grand strategy in light of its often ambivalent behavior. To explain this ambivalence, this article will take a closer empirical look at two important developments regarding China’s international affairs: The softening on China’s preoccupation with territorial integrity and sovereignty has been exhibited in taking sides with Russia in the Ukraine Crisis, as well as its continually increasing participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. In contrast to more common materialist explanations, this article argues that the ambivalence of these actions can best be explained by contextualizing them with China’s history and sense of legitimacy.

• Review: Halper, Stefan A. Beijing Consensus: Legitimizing Authoritarianism in Our Time. New York, NY: Basic Books, [2010] 2012. 336 pp

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 22:1

• North Korea Cyber Capabilities

  In: Paul J. Springer, Encyclopedia of Cyber Warfare (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO), pp. 207-209.

• Gamification: It's in the Game

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Occupation During and After the War (China)

  1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War, ed. by Ute Daniel, Peter Gatrell, Oliver Janz, Heather Jones, Jennifer Keene, Alan Kramer, and Bill Nasson, issued by Freie Universität Berlin

  This article surveys the occupation of the formerly German-leased territory around the Jiaozhou Bay with Qingdao as its capital city by the Japanese during and after the First World War. It first describes the initial ultimatum of the Japanese to the Germans to turn over the territory, which today is the peninsular part of China’s Shandong province. It then goes further into the siege and ensuing occupation by the Japanese, which lasted throughout the First World War and another four years longer, until 1922. To conclude, the article describes the eventual turning over of the territory by the Japanese back to China.

• China's Contradictory Grand Strategy Manifestations: Examining the Rare Earths Export Restrictions and the One Belt, One Road Initiative

  Tamkang Journal of International Affairs 20:1, pp. 1-60 (peer-reviewed)

  In the past few years, China has exhibited a rising assertiveness in international relations, including trade, although its official grand strategy remains "Peaceful Development." Examples of this contradictory trajectory are China's rare earth elements export restrictions (assertive) and the One Belt, One Road initiative (peaceful). This article seeks to establish, on the one hand, whether or not these examples are conforming to or diverging from "Peaceful Development," and therefore actually a manifestation of the alleged rising assertiveness on China's part, and on the other hand, identify the reason why China is acting ambivalently. To accomplish this, this article gives historical-cultural context to the analyzed cases in order to explain them via an innovative approach using intangible factors rather than the more commonplace materialist explanations. Results of the analysis show that for the understanding of these grand strategy manifestations and their (at times) perceived rising assertiveness and inconsistency, a good grasp of China's historical memory and sense of legitimacy is determining.

• The Debate on China’s Grand Strategy

  China Policy Institute at the University of Nottingham

• Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Border Minorities in China’s Foreign Relations with South Asia

  Journal of Borderlands Studies 34:3, pp. 413-431 (peer-reviewed)

  This article takes a closer look at how China’s government deals with border minorities in the foreign relations with its neighboring South Asian states. To secure its periphery, China has been known to push its neighbors to support border security, including repressive measures against refugee populations which could potentially threaten China’s domestic peace by inciting or supporting secessionist movements. This study highlights the roles of the Tibetan and Uighur minorities in the relations of China with adjacent states in South Asia. For the Tibetan minority, the article will analyze Sino-Nepalese as well as Sino-Indian relations; concerning the Uighur minority, Sino-Pakistani relations will be highlighted. These case studies promise to be interesting also because of the range of relationships between China and these countries, Pakistan being a relatively close ally, Nepal a buffer state in which China and India compete for power, and India being at least a competitor state, if not arch-enemy—given still existing border disputes. India and Nepal house the first and second largest Tibetan refugee populations worldwide, respectively, while only a small Uighur population lives in Pakistan. Expected results should show the relative importance of border minorities and therefore, Chinese domestic politics in foreign relations with the selected cases.

• Securitization and De-securitization in the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands Territorial Dispute

  Journal of Alternative Perspectives in the Social Sciences 6:2, pp. 219-247 (peer-reviewed)

  Recently, the territorial dispute over the Diaoyu, or Senkaku, Islands in the East China Sea has flamed up between China and Japan. This conflict deserves further attention because of its potential of being the spark to unleash a Sino-Japanese firefight. However, this was not the first time the two Northeast Asian great power rivals have at least verbally fought over who is the rightful owner to the resource-rich archipelago and surrounding waters. The controversy can be traced from post-World War II, over the 1970s and 1990s, to today. The entire process of this largely verbal fistfight can be best understood through the Copenhagen School’s securitization and de-securitization concepts. Japan, being in the role of the administrator, naturally more often desecuritized the issue in the past than did China, while China mostly strategically securitized the dispute. For the current round of escalation over the dispute, interestingly, Japan acted as initial securitizing actor. This paper aims to contextualize the instances in which the territorial dispute over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands has been either securitized or desecuritized by either party. The analysis adds nuances to securitization theory, especially concerning the role of societal uprisings in securitizing a dispute such as the one at hand.

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• The Arctic Council: governance within the far north. Douglas C. Nord. 2016. London and New York, NY: Routledge. xiv + 110 p, hardcover, ISBN 978-1-138-79920-2. GBP 120.

  Polar Record 55:2, pp. 115-116

• How Movie References Can Make Teaching Theories More Accessible

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Rising Assertiveness Versus Peaceful Development: Making Sense of China’s Ambivalent International Behavior

  Culture Mandala 12:1, pp. 23-44

  In the past few years, especially after the 2008 global financial crisis, China has become more assertive, not just in its military posture but also in its diplomatic affairs and economic interactions. Despite this rising assertiveness, China’s grand strategy officially remains that of ‘Peaceful Development.’ In consequence, scholars have disagreed about the trajectory of China’s grand strategy in light of its often ambivalent behavior. To explain this ambivalence, this article will take a closer empirical look at two important developments regarding China’s international affairs: The softening on China’s preoccupation with territorial integrity and sovereignty has been exhibited in taking sides with Russia in the Ukraine Crisis, as well as its continually increasing participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. In contrast to more common materialist explanations, this article argues that the ambivalence of these actions can best be explained by contextualizing them with China’s history and sense of legitimacy.

• Review: Halper, Stefan A. Beijing Consensus: Legitimizing Authoritarianism in Our Time. New York, NY: Basic Books, [2010] 2012. 336 pp

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 22:1

• North Korea Cyber Capabilities

  In: Paul J. Springer, Encyclopedia of Cyber Warfare (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO), pp. 207-209.

• Gamification: It's in the Game

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Occupation During and After the War (China)

  1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War, ed. by Ute Daniel, Peter Gatrell, Oliver Janz, Heather Jones, Jennifer Keene, Alan Kramer, and Bill Nasson, issued by Freie Universität Berlin

  This article surveys the occupation of the formerly German-leased territory around the Jiaozhou Bay with Qingdao as its capital city by the Japanese during and after the First World War. It first describes the initial ultimatum of the Japanese to the Germans to turn over the territory, which today is the peninsular part of China’s Shandong province. It then goes further into the siege and ensuing occupation by the Japanese, which lasted throughout the First World War and another four years longer, until 1922. To conclude, the article describes the eventual turning over of the territory by the Japanese back to China.

• China's Contradictory Grand Strategy Manifestations: Examining the Rare Earths Export Restrictions and the One Belt, One Road Initiative

  Tamkang Journal of International Affairs 20:1, pp. 1-60 (peer-reviewed)

  In the past few years, China has exhibited a rising assertiveness in international relations, including trade, although its official grand strategy remains "Peaceful Development." Examples of this contradictory trajectory are China's rare earth elements export restrictions (assertive) and the One Belt, One Road initiative (peaceful). This article seeks to establish, on the one hand, whether or not these examples are conforming to or diverging from "Peaceful Development," and therefore actually a manifestation of the alleged rising assertiveness on China's part, and on the other hand, identify the reason why China is acting ambivalently. To accomplish this, this article gives historical-cultural context to the analyzed cases in order to explain them via an innovative approach using intangible factors rather than the more commonplace materialist explanations. Results of the analysis show that for the understanding of these grand strategy manifestations and their (at times) perceived rising assertiveness and inconsistency, a good grasp of China's historical memory and sense of legitimacy is determining.

• The Debate on China’s Grand Strategy

  China Policy Institute at the University of Nottingham

• Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Border Minorities in China’s Foreign Relations with South Asia

  Journal of Borderlands Studies 34:3, pp. 413-431 (peer-reviewed)

  This article takes a closer look at how China’s government deals with border minorities in the foreign relations with its neighboring South Asian states. To secure its periphery, China has been known to push its neighbors to support border security, including repressive measures against refugee populations which could potentially threaten China’s domestic peace by inciting or supporting secessionist movements. This study highlights the roles of the Tibetan and Uighur minorities in the relations of China with adjacent states in South Asia. For the Tibetan minority, the article will analyze Sino-Nepalese as well as Sino-Indian relations; concerning the Uighur minority, Sino-Pakistani relations will be highlighted. These case studies promise to be interesting also because of the range of relationships between China and these countries, Pakistan being a relatively close ally, Nepal a buffer state in which China and India compete for power, and India being at least a competitor state, if not arch-enemy—given still existing border disputes. India and Nepal house the first and second largest Tibetan refugee populations worldwide, respectively, while only a small Uighur population lives in Pakistan. Expected results should show the relative importance of border minorities and therefore, Chinese domestic politics in foreign relations with the selected cases.

• Securitization and De-securitization in the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands Territorial Dispute

  Journal of Alternative Perspectives in the Social Sciences 6:2, pp. 219-247 (peer-reviewed)

  Recently, the territorial dispute over the Diaoyu, or Senkaku, Islands in the East China Sea has flamed up between China and Japan. This conflict deserves further attention because of its potential of being the spark to unleash a Sino-Japanese firefight. However, this was not the first time the two Northeast Asian great power rivals have at least verbally fought over who is the rightful owner to the resource-rich archipelago and surrounding waters. The controversy can be traced from post-World War II, over the 1970s and 1990s, to today. The entire process of this largely verbal fistfight can be best understood through the Copenhagen School’s securitization and de-securitization concepts. Japan, being in the role of the administrator, naturally more often desecuritized the issue in the past than did China, while China mostly strategically securitized the dispute. For the current round of escalation over the dispute, interestingly, Japan acted as initial securitizing actor. This paper aims to contextualize the instances in which the territorial dispute over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands has been either securitized or desecuritized by either party. The analysis adds nuances to securitization theory, especially concerning the role of societal uprisings in securitizing a dispute such as the one at hand.

• War Aims and War Aims Discussions (China)

  1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War, ed. by Ute Daniel, Peter Gatrell, Oliver Janz, Heather Jones, Jennifer Keene, Alan Kramer, and Bill Nasson, issued by Freie Universität Berlin

  This article discusses China’s war aims during the First World War, as well as the intra-Chinese discussion over which side to enter the war on. It surveys the extent of the different aims, most of which were related to regaining control over foreign occupied territory, such as the German (then Japanese) territory around Jiaozhou Bay, among others. The article also highlights the evolution of the discussion in China over which side to support in the Great War, which lasted until 1917, when China finally declared war on Germany. The article concludes with an assessment of the extent to which China achieved its war aims.

• European Involvement in China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Geopolitical Pragmatism or Normative Engagement?

  EU Development Policies: Between Norms and Geopolitics, pp 79-93

• China's Grand Strategy: Contradictory Foreign Policy?

  Palgrave Macmillan

  This book describes the main contradictions in China’s actions on the world stage―peaceful vs. assertive―through a culturally informed framework that takes into account China’s historical memory and political culture. The author analyzes nine cases, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as examples that show both China’s commitment to peace and development in the region, as well as its concerted effort to introduce alternative institutions on the global stage that could challenge the hegemony of the West and Western values.

• China's Hegemonic Intentions and Trajectory: Will It Opt for Benevolent, Coercive, or Dutch‐style Hegemony?

  Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6:2, pp. 186-207 (peer-reviewed)

  This article analyses China's strategic intentions and how these may ultimately project its violent or peaceful hegemonic rise. It maintains that, although it is difficult to define accurately China's future hegemonic role and general systemic behaviour, a “Third Hegemonic Way” or Dutch‐style hegemony is highly instructive in this context and, thus, should be examined and added to the existing debate on China's peaceful or violent rise as either a benevolent or potentially coercive hegemon. We argue that the Dutch‐style hegemony may be the most viable way for China to proceed in its global hegemonic ascendancy in a future world order.

• Foreign Relations - Northeast Asia

  Collective Memory Project: The Election of 2004

• Implications of the Dragon’s Rise for South Asia: Assessing China’s Nepal Policy

  Strategic Analysis 40:1, pp. 24-38 (peer-reviewed)

  China has always been an important neighbour to Nepal which has otherwise historically been heavily influenced by India. The ‘Rise of China’ has created a more outward-looking Middle Kingdom and so its influence in Nepal has significantly increased within the last decade. As a consequence, Nepal is experiencing growing interest from China. This article aims to give some historical background to Sino-Nepalese relations and to measure the most recent impact of the ‘Rise of China’ on Nepal, particularly on its economic, military and political fronts. This is followed by a broader look at China’s policy towards Nepal, also taking into account China’s overall strategy towards South Asia. Apart from China’s relationship with India, the issues of stability in Tibet as well as Tibetan refugees within Nepal remain important factors for the Sino-Nepalese relationship even to this day.

• Interview for NHK (Japan) broadcast "China: Visioning the new enormous economic bloc"

  Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

• Review: So, Alvin Y., and Yin-Wah Chu. The Global Rise of China. Cambridge, UK & Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2012. 232 pp.

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 23:2, pp. 257-258

• The Arctic Council: governance within the far north. Douglas C. Nord. 2016. London and New York, NY: Routledge. xiv + 110 p, hardcover, ISBN 978-1-138-79920-2. GBP 120.

  Polar Record 55:2, pp. 115-116

• How Movie References Can Make Teaching Theories More Accessible

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Rising Assertiveness Versus Peaceful Development: Making Sense of China’s Ambivalent International Behavior

  Culture Mandala 12:1, pp. 23-44

  In the past few years, especially after the 2008 global financial crisis, China has become more assertive, not just in its military posture but also in its diplomatic affairs and economic interactions. Despite this rising assertiveness, China’s grand strategy officially remains that of ‘Peaceful Development.’ In consequence, scholars have disagreed about the trajectory of China’s grand strategy in light of its often ambivalent behavior. To explain this ambivalence, this article will take a closer empirical look at two important developments regarding China’s international affairs: The softening on China’s preoccupation with territorial integrity and sovereignty has been exhibited in taking sides with Russia in the Ukraine Crisis, as well as its continually increasing participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. In contrast to more common materialist explanations, this article argues that the ambivalence of these actions can best be explained by contextualizing them with China’s history and sense of legitimacy.

• Review: Halper, Stefan A. Beijing Consensus: Legitimizing Authoritarianism in Our Time. New York, NY: Basic Books, [2010] 2012. 336 pp

  American Journal of Chinese Studies 22:1

• North Korea Cyber Capabilities

  In: Paul J. Springer, Encyclopedia of Cyber Warfare (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO), pp. 207-209.

• Gamification: It's in the Game

  e-IR: Ivory Tower Blog

• Occupation During and After the War (China)

  1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War, ed. by Ute Daniel, Peter Gatrell, Oliver Janz, Heather Jones, Jennifer Keene, Alan Kramer, and Bill Nasson, issued by Freie Universität Berlin

  This article surveys the occupation of the formerly German-leased territory around the Jiaozhou Bay with Qingdao as its capital city by the Japanese during and after the First World War. It first describes the initial ultimatum of the Japanese to the Germans to turn over the territory, which today is the peninsular part of China’s Shandong province. It then goes further into the siege and ensuing occupation by the Japanese, which lasted throughout the First World War and another four years longer, until 1922. To conclude, the article describes the eventual turning over of the territory by the Japanese back to China.

• China's Contradictory Grand Strategy Manifestations: Examining the Rare Earths Export Restrictions and the One Belt, One Road Initiative

  Tamkang Journal of International Affairs 20:1, pp. 1-60 (peer-reviewed)

  In the past few years, China has exhibited a rising assertiveness in international relations, including trade, although its official grand strategy remains "Peaceful Development." Examples of this contradictory trajectory are China's rare earth elements export restrictions (assertive) and the One Belt, One Road initiative (peaceful). This article seeks to establish, on the one hand, whether or not these examples are conforming to or diverging from "Peaceful Development," and therefore actually a manifestation of the alleged rising assertiveness on China's part, and on the other hand, identify the reason why China is acting ambivalently. To accomplish this, this article gives historical-cultural context to the analyzed cases in order to explain them via an innovative approach using intangible factors rather than the more commonplace materialist explanations. Results of the analysis show that for the understanding of these grand strategy manifestations and their (at times) perceived rising assertiveness and inconsistency, a good grasp of China's historical memory and sense of legitimacy is determining.

• The Debate on China’s Grand Strategy

  China Policy Institute at the University of Nottingham

• Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Border Minorities in China’s Foreign Relations with South Asia

  Journal of Borderlands Studies 34:3, pp. 413-431 (peer-reviewed)

  This article takes a closer look at how China’s government deals with border minorities in the foreign relations with its neighboring South Asian states. To secure its periphery, China has been known to push its neighbors to support border security, including repressive measures against refugee populations which could potentially threaten China’s domestic peace by inciting or supporting secessionist movements. This study highlights the roles of the Tibetan and Uighur minorities in the relations of China with adjacent states in South Asia. For the Tibetan minority, the article will analyze Sino-Nepalese as well as Sino-Indian relations; concerning the Uighur minority, Sino-Pakistani relations will be highlighted. These case studies promise to be interesting also because of the range of relationships between China and these countries, Pakistan being a relatively close ally, Nepal a buffer state in which China and India compete for power, and India being at least a competitor state, if not arch-enemy—given still existing border disputes. India and Nepal house the first and second largest Tibetan refugee populations worldwide, respectively, while only a small Uighur population lives in Pakistan. Expected results should show the relative importance of border minorities and therefore, Chinese domestic politics in foreign relations with the selected cases.

• Securitization and De-securitization in the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands Territorial Dispute

  Journal of Alternative Perspectives in the Social Sciences 6:2, pp. 219-247 (peer-reviewed)

  Recently, the territorial dispute over the Diaoyu, or Senkaku, Islands in the East China Sea has flamed up between China and Japan. This conflict deserves further attention because of its potential of being the spark to unleash a Sino-Japanese firefight. However, this was not the first time the two Northeast Asian great power rivals have at least verbally fought over who is the rightful owner to the resource-rich archipelago and surrounding waters. The controversy can be traced from post-World War II, over the 1970s and 1990s, to today. The entire process of this largely verbal fistfight can be best understood through the Copenhagen School’s securitization and de-securitization concepts. Japan, being in the role of the administrator, naturally more often desecuritized the issue in the past than did China, while China mostly strategically securitized the dispute. For the current round of escalation over the dispute, interestingly, Japan acted as initial securitizing actor. This paper aims to contextualize the instances in which the territorial dispute over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands has been either securitized or desecuritized by either party. The analysis adds nuances to securitization theory, especially concerning the role of societal uprisings in securitizing a dispute such as the one at hand.

• War Aims and War Aims Discussions (China)

  1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War, ed. by Ute Daniel, Peter Gatrell, Oliver Janz, Heather Jones, Jennifer Keene, Alan Kramer, and Bill Nasson, issued by Freie Universität Berlin

  This article discusses China’s war aims during the First World War, as well as the intra-Chinese discussion over which side to enter the war on. It surveys the extent of the different aims, most of which were related to regaining control over foreign occupied territory, such as the German (then Japanese) territory around Jiaozhou Bay, among others. The article also highlights the evolution of the discussion in China over which side to support in the Great War, which lasted until 1917, when China finally declared war on Germany. The article concludes with an assessment of the extent to which China achieved its war aims.

• Asia’s Latent Nuclear Powers: Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. New York & Abingdon: Routledge. 176 pages. ISBN 978‐1‐138‐93080‐3. Paperback, $22.95. Mark Fitzpatrick. 2016.

  Asian Politics & Policy