Tag: China

Empire Strikes Back: Imperialism as the Final Frontier of the United States

The United States has long been losing global power to China, as Beijing challenges Western dominance by leveraging strategic pressure points such as Venezuela, Greenland, and Iran. Imperialism becomes the final frontier of a falling hegemon, a move arising out of diplomatic insecurity, not power. As such, it can be concluded that such interventions globally sends a single message across nations, about the uncertain fate of the global order. … Continue readingEmpire Strikes Back: Imperialism as the Final Frontier of the United States

History v geography: understanding Australia’s approach to national defence

Defensive has become offensive. Yet Australian defence policy remains entrenched in stagnant, myopic directives that do not consider long term challenges, as we are experiencing today. It can be said that we are witnessing a polycrisis unfold: multiple global catastrophes playing out with such force that strategic shocks are now the new norm, leaving policymakers to answer the difficult question of how best to respond. This question renews calls for a better directed national defence stratagem, if it is to withstand our current predicament. While our historical partnerships with countries like the US remain important, we must acknowledge our place in the world, and make the most of our regional potential. … Continue readingHistory v geography: understanding Australia’s approach to national defence

Authoritarianism, democracy and the climate: comparing the EU and China’s climate governance

The idea of ‘eco-authoritarianism’ calls for authoritarian technocratic governance to push necessary reforms that address the climate crisis. Yet are authoritarian governments really better at tackling climate change? With COP30 just around the corner, the comparison of autocratic and democratic regimes, focusing on the People’s Republic of China and the European Union (EU), including its 27 member states, becomes all the more salient. … Continue readingAuthoritarianism, democracy and the climate: comparing the EU and China’s climate governance

The Restarting of History and the Decline of the Liberal Democratic Order

In 1989, American political scientist and philosopher Francis Fukuyama wrote a now famous essay titled, ‘The End of History.’

36 years on from that monumental declaration, we find ourselves facing a world in which liberalism, the dominant global ideology, faces fatigue. The dream of a world of western democracy seems increasingly challenged and the history of global development seems far from settled. … Continue readingThe Restarting of History and the Decline of the Liberal Democratic Order

Taiwan’s E-Waste Management: A Model for Global Sustainability Amidst Geopolitical Challenges

In an ever-evolving landscape of global environmental challenges, electronic waste, or e-waste, has emerged as a pressing concern. Given the increased proliferation of electronic devices worldwide, responsible e-waste management is crucial for environmental sustainability, underscored by the global generation of approximately 53.6 million metric tons (Mt) of electronic waste in 2019, demanding urgent attention. … Continue readingTaiwan’s E-Waste Management: A Model for Global Sustainability Amidst Geopolitical Challenges

The Dialectics of Discontent: A Glimpse of Reality through Societal Phenomena in Post-COVID China

In the heart of Shandong province, Zibo’s streets are filled with a smoky allure. Barbecues have become a symbol of cultural resistance against the societal pressures of post-Covid China. This ‘BBQ City – Zibo‘ phenomenon contrasts sharply with ‘Runology,’ a term encapsulating the yearning of … Continue readingThe Dialectics of Discontent: A Glimpse of Reality through Societal Phenomena in Post-COVID China

The Emperor’s New Groove? China’s Reimagined Image

China’s rise over the last several decades has at times been accompanied by turbulent relations with other states and the multilateral system more broadly.

As Owen Robinson writes, this has led to several efforts by the Chinese Government to transform its image on the global stage and with individuals on a smaller scale. … Continue readingThe Emperor’s New Groove? China’s Reimagined Image

CHINA: THE PAPER TIGER

China – the country supposedly going to replace the United States as the global hegemon. The country whose ‘rise’ has been named the top news story of the twenty-first century by the Global Language Monitor. The country that is generally thought to be the superpower … Continue readingCHINA: THE PAPER TIGER