13^th February: Yang Ying (Masters Candidate)

Topic: “China’s Soft Power and its National Image”
Discussant: Dr Reuben Wong
Abstract: This paper creates a quantitative measure of China's soft power in order to explore its significance to China's national image. Interest in the concept of soft power has been increasing in IR studies. With China's rapid economic growth and expanded political influence, its soft power has become a topic worthy of deeper exploration. While there has been a lot of descriptive evidence of the growth and potential of China's soft power, a numerical index of soft power will allow more effective assessment. Besides, the result of China's growing soft power deserves further investigation. In addition to a quantitative measure of China's soft power, this paper uses foreign public opinion as an indicator of China's image in the world. A model controlling the impact of hard power thus tries to conclude which dimensions of soft power work better and significantly contribute to a positive national image.

13^th March: Natchapat Ountrongchit (Ph.D. Candidate)

Topic: “Symbol, Language and Power in Thai Modernity”
Discussant: Dr. Titima Suthiwan (Center for Language Studies, FASS, NUS)
Abstract: Since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, Thailand witnessed a pattern of political struggles between the ruling elites while Thai citizens tended to be politically variegated apathetic. However this is only a cursory perspective at the surface of the political structure when there have been constitutional problems. Every time power changed hands from one faction to another, there was a need of a new constitution. Thailand has had 17 constitutions, 18 coups since 1932. Thailand has had new constitutions and coups for averagely every 4 years.  The working hypothesis of this dissertation is that democracy is not a fundamental value in Thailand It tries to study the influence of Buddhist rhetoric, especially the belief in the law of karma and bāramī (virtue) as sources of the Thai perception of power. The doctrine of karma is a fundamental truth of Buddhism; it explains how certain aspects of one’s present experience are consequences of previous acts. Buddhism provides a hierarchy of codes of moral behavior articulated as distinct sets of labor. It represents in the constitutions.
The objective of this dissertation is to understand the power relationship within the modern Thai state by suggesting the analysis of political rhetoric in contemporary society. It attempts to study Buddhism that is used in political rhetoric, providing a set of ideas, sentiments and symbols associated with the modern life in national communities. Finally, it attempts to construct a political approach based on the influence of the cosmological hierarchy form of Buddhism that provides a perspective on the relations of political order.

17^th April: Cui Jing (Ph.D. Candidate)

Topic: “Improving Public Service Delivery in Qingdao Municipality of Shandong Province” (Abstract)
Discussant: Prof Jon Quah
Abstract: This paper will assess the effectiveness of the reform of improving public service delivery and identify the factors responsible for the improvements in public service delivery in Qingdao municipality of Shandong province in the People’s Republic of China.This paper begins with a description of the policy context and discusses how the policy context affects the improvement of public service delivery in Qingdao municipality. It then discusses the efforts of improving the delivery of public service through enhancing human service delivery, reforming the administrative approval system and increasing government transparency and public participation in Qingdao municipality. Finally, this paper will identify the factors affecting the improvement of public service delivery in Qingdao municipality in terms of decentralization of economic management and the local leadership.