Source (Google maps) Sovereignty is a key concept within international relations. It is commonly used in the real world – it is enshrined within the workings of international institutions and has been a contested concept within the Brexit discourse and Chinese foreign policy. Sovereignty is also very common in International Relations discipline. It is aContinue reading “China’s notion of sovereignty – 独立自主”
Author Archives: James Lo
Who has a greater impact in formulating BRI – leadership or bureaucracies?
Source (World Intellectual Property) This blog post argues that bureaucracies have a greater impact in foreign policy formulation when applied to the case study of China’s flagship Belt and Road initiative (hereafter known as BRI), with Xi’s increasing centralisation of foreign policy making power not directly applying to BRI formulation. Instead, Xi and the NRDC’sContinue reading “Who has a greater impact in formulating BRI – leadership or bureaucracies?”
What does IR theory say about nuclear proliferation policies regarding Iran?
Image source (szczepan.lemanczyk) Written by James Lo This is the third part of a three part series on using nuclear proliferation theories to analyse current nuclear proliferation foreign policies. In part one, I provided a succinct summary of various theories. In part two, I argued that Etel Solingen’s nuclear proliferation theory, outlined in Nuclear Logics,Continue reading “What does IR theory say about nuclear proliferation policies regarding Iran?”
What does IR theory say about nuclear proliferation policies regarding North Korea?
Image Source (Stephen) Written by James Lo This is the second part of a three part series on using nuclear proliferation theories to analyse current nuclear proliferation foreign policies. In part one, I provided a succinct summary of various theories. In this post, I will argue that Etel Solingen’s nuclear proliferation theory, outlined in NuclearContinue reading “What does IR theory say about nuclear proliferation policies regarding North Korea?”
Nuclear Proliferation and IR theory
Image source (Dennis Jarvis) Written by James Lo This essay is part of a three-part series in analysing how IR theories inform how one should act in terms of nuclear proliferation. Part one introduces the theories that are currently prevalent in the realm of nuclear proliferation, and parts two and three will apply such theoriesContinue reading “Nuclear Proliferation and IR theory”
Is China socialised in western norms and practices through its engagement with international institutions?
Source: ILO Written by James Lo Since Deng’s decision to open up and engage with the international community in 1978, China has increased their interactions with international institutions. Over the past two decades, scholars such as Johnston and Schweller have argued that China can be socialised through their engagements with international institutions and be integratedContinue reading “Is China socialised in western norms and practices through its engagement with international institutions?”
Can the UNFCCC and COP ever succeed?
Source: UNClimateChange Written by James Lo UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is one of the most visible treaties aimed at tackling climate change in the world. With 197 parties to the convention and 165 signatories, it ranks among one of the most signed international treaties. Under the framework, the Conference of the PartiesContinue reading “Can the UNFCCC and COP ever succeed?”
Language in International Relations
Written by James Lo This is a post on how different languages used in International Relations can explain the same phenomenon but invoke different thoughts in the reader. Today I will compare terms in English and Chinese explaining the same scenario – when power is disproportionately concentrated in one country. In English, IR theorists useContinue reading “Language in International Relations”
China, Socialisation and the Legitimacy of Environmental Foreign Policy
Image Source Written by James Lo China’s environmental foreign policy can be split in two stages. From 1980s to early 2000s, socialisation occurred through the interactions between China and international regimes such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). However, post 2009, China’s environmental foreign policy was orientated around the idea ofContinue reading “China, Socialisation and the Legitimacy of Environmental Foreign Policy”
Taiwan, Soft Balancing and Hong Kong Protests
Image Source (Edmund Yeo) Written by James Lo Building on last week’s post on the stances that Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar took on Hong Kong protests, this essay will look at Taiwan’s stance towards the Hong Kong Protests. Taiwan is the only Asian country to have outwardly spoken in support of Hong Kong protestors andContinue reading “Taiwan, Soft Balancing and Hong Kong Protests”
IR theory in Practice 